An ambitious environmental policy

What is an environmental approach?

An environmental approach refers to all the actions taken by an organisation to reduce its ecological impact and contribute to the protection of natural resources. It covers various areas: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy transition, responsible management of resources (water, energy, raw materials), preserving biodiversity and supporting stakeholders in moving towards more sustainable practices.

At Upcoop, this approach is part of a cooperative model. It is an integral part of our CSR strategy, alongside social, societal, economic and governance dimensions. Our ambition is clear: to combine purchasing power with the power to act, by giving our customers, employee-members, beneficiaries and partners the means to adopt more responsible behaviours.

The environmental approach addresses major challenges that affect both businesses and society as a whole.

Climate change and carbon emission reduction

Global warming is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Businesses must reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the climate neutrality target set by the European Green Deal for 2050. The environmental approach therefore involves taking concrete action on the main sources of emissions: mobility, energy, production and digital technology.

Strict environmental regulations

Regulations are being tightened at European and national level. The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), adopted in 2022, requires companies to provide more detailed non-financial reporting by 2028, while the European taxonomy defines activities considered to be sustainable. In France, energy efficiency laws complement this framework, alongside ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria, which are widely used in investment decisions.

High expectations from consumers and citizens

Citizens are expressing growing expectations of companies. They want tangible evidence of commitment rather than just words. According to the Ifop Barometer on French perceptions of CSR, 78% believe that adapting to climate change should be a priority for the new government. Environmental initiatives also help organisations address issues of credibility and trust.

Preserving biodiversity and natural resources

Biodiversity loss and resource scarcity are weakening ecosystems. A robust environmental approach involves limiting direct and indirect impacts on natural environments: respecting soil and forests, preserving water resources, reducing waste and combating plastic pollution.

Accelerated energy transition

The gradual phase-out of fossil fuels and the development of renewable energies are profoundly transforming our economic models. Committing to the energy transition means reducing dependence on limited resources, anticipating energy price fluctuations and contributing to carbon neutrality.

Opportunity for innovation and economic competitiveness

Far from being a hindrance, environmental initiatives are a lever for innovation and competitiveness. Companies that invest in eco-design, low-carbon technologies or circularity solutions (reuse, recycling, sharing) enhance their attractiveness, create new markets and anticipate future regulations.

How to structure your environmental approach

Implementing an effective environmental approach cannot be improvised. It requires method, management and monitoring.

Carry out an accurate diagnosis

The first step in launching an environmental approach is to measure its real impact. Carrying out a carbon assessment helps to identify the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions: business travel, energy consumption, digital usage, etc. This work can be supplemented by an energy audit to assess building consumption and resource management (water, raw materials, waste).

A biodiversity impact analysis helps to better understand the effects of activities on local ecosystems: soil, forests, fauna and flora. Finally, the company must verify its regulatory compliance with European and national standards.

Develop a roadmap with SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) objectives

Once the diagnosis has been made, it is essential to define a roadmap with clear and measurable objectives. The SMART method makes it possible to transform a general ambition into operational commitments.

For example, aiming for carbon neutrality or a circular economy is a long-term vision, but it must be broken down into quantified objectives: reducing emissions by X% within five years, lowering annual energy consumption by X%, or increasing the proportion of recycled materials in production. A prioritised action plan, divided into short-, medium- and long-term objectives, with a timetable and allocated budget, ensures the project is managed effectively.

Establish dedicated governance

A robust environmental approach cannot rely solely on individual goodwill. It must be supported by explicit governance, with a CSR representative or environmental committee responsible for monitoring progress.

Involving stakeholders – employees, customers and partners – strengthens the legitimacy of the approach and encourages the emergence of solutions across the entire value chain.

Implement concrete and measurable actions

Commitments must be translated into visible measures. For example, switching to 100% renewable electricity, promoting soft mobility with subsidised public transport or hybrid fleets, reducing plastic use through eco-design. In the digital domain, it is possible to extend the life of equipment and optimise websites to reduce the environmental footprint.

Each action must be monitored using key indicators in order to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Since 2017, 100% of Upcoop's French sites have been powered by a cooperative renewable electricity supplier.

Train and raise awareness among teams

A strategy is only valuable if it is understood and supported by those who implement it. Training employees on the climate emergency, eco-driving and everyday eco-friendly actions helps to spread a common culture and involve all employees in the environmental approach.

At Upcoop, we train our teams in eco-driving and participate in events aimed at protecting the planet.

Communicate clearly and authentically

Finally, transparent communication is essential. This involves regularly publishing results in non-financial reports, as well as using recognised labels or certifications (ISO 14001, EcoVadis, etc.). Responsible communication means sharing concrete evidence, highlighting collective successes and communicating future goals and ambitions.

Two objectives in support of our environmental approach

As part of our environmental approach, we have set ourselves two ambitious objectives, consistent with the principle of a sustainable economy, to contribute every day to preserving the planet for the benefit of future generations, while pursuing the goal of sustainable growth.

Combating global warming

All Upcoop group companies carry out their own carbon assessments, which enables them to set concrete environmental objectives. The aim is to minimise our sources of greenhouse gas emissions in four priority areas: employee travel, energy consumption, purchasing and fixed assets.

Combating the degradation of natural environments

Beyond measuring our own carbon footprint, we are committed to supporting our customers in adopting more environmentally friendly practices. This includes solutions that encourage responsible purchasing, such as the option to direct spending towards committed businesses (organic, short supply chains, bulk, sustainable catering) or to promote the circular economy.

An environmental approach driven by our employees

The success of an environmental approach depends as much on strategic decisions as on employee commitment. At Upcoop, employee-members are fully involved in implementing sustainable practices on a daily basis. Training, mobility, energy, purchasing: each of these areas is supported collectively, with a view to consistency and continuous improvement.

Training and awareness

Since 2024, all Group employees have benefited from mandatory CSR training, which is integrated into internal training programmes.

At the same time, more than 1,650 employees have already participated in a Fresque du Climat workshop in 25 countries. These workshops, led by an internal network of 45 trained "fresqueurs", help to spread a shared culture of climate urgency and stimulate collective intelligence. Nearly 900 concrete ideas have been collected to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

Annual awareness campaigns promoting eco-friendly actions (World Clean Up Day, Digital Clean Up Day, World Environment Day, Biodiversity Day) and local initiatives such as Sustainability Week in Brazil and tree planting in the Czech Republic complement our actions.

Sustainable mobility

In France, to encourage more virtuous alternatives, Upcoop covers 75% of its employees' public transport season tickets.

Since 2022, our car policy has promoted the use of hybrid vehicles to limit the carbon footprint of travel. With the relocation of our headquarters to Up Gardens in 2023, close to public transport, greenhouse gas emissions linked to commuting have fallen by 25% since 2019.

Green energy and responsible design

Since 2017, all Upcoop sites have been supplied 100% by a French cooperative supplier of renewable electricity. In addition, 80% of the energy consumed by our head offices in France comes from renewable or recovered sources.

We also ensure that the life cycle of our solutions is as virtuous as possible, from design to end of life.

Focus on the life cycle of the Upcoop lunch card:

• Material: our cards are made from 100% recycled plastic.
• Manufacturing: they are produced in France by an ISO 14001-certified service provider, using a process powered entirely by renewable energy.
• Packaging: the paper used for our packaging and accompanying letters is certified as coming from sustainably managed forests.
• Transport: deliveries are handled by Chronopost or La Poste, two companies committed to reducing their carbon footprint.
• Use: our Up+ programme encourages responsible consumption.
• Recycling: our cards are fully recyclable. At the end of their life, they can be returned to us free of charge using a postage-paid system.

Our solutions are also moving towards greater dematerialisation. Responsible design remains one of our priorities. The life cycle analysis carried out on our products allows us to accurately estimate the emissions generated by a paper ticket and a card during their use.

This data enriches our environmental approach and guides our choices. With the support of a climate consulting firm, we have designed a tool certified by Bureau Veritas to compare the carbon footprint of our physical media.

This tool estimates* that the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the card solution are almost half those generated by the paper solution.

* Estimate based on the entire life cycle of paper and card media, based on a 4-year usage period (average lifespan of a card).

Environmental approach within the Group's policy

A CSR, brand and group identity department coordinates and supports subsidiaries in the implementation of the CSR approach. It sets sustainable performance objectives and promotes all actions carried out both internally and externally.

Employee initiatives are promoted and reported through dedicated channels, enabling best practices to be recognised and shared. The environment is also an integral part of HR (Human Resources) rituals: awareness-raising modules during onboarding, regular communication about results, internal training for buyers to reinforce responsible purchasing.

Partnerships and initiatives promoting a global environmental approach

As a cooperative company, we mobilise our customers, partner retailers and local communities to work together on this environmental approach.

Solutions that support the environment

Our payment solutions incorporate features that encourage responsible practices. For example, beneficiaries of the Upcoop lunch solution can easily identify eco-friendly businesses — organic, short supply chain, bulk, local, etc. — thanks to the "Consume responsibly" filter available on our store locator (a geolocation site for affiliated retailers). The Up+ scheme allows users to accumulate benefits by favouring these responsible businesses.

In 2024, we launched a map of eco-friendly addresses in partnership with Mapstr, allowing users to view more than 15,000 sustainable points of sale affiliated with the Upcoop lunch solution. We empower our users to consume responsibly and thus take action for the environment.

Our subsidiaries have developed educational chatbots on sustainable food and seasonal consumption, already available in Belgium, Germany and Italy. In Belgium, a carbon calculator helps beneficiaries better understand the carbon footprint of their food choices, with a pilot project currently underway.

Reforestation and carbon offset projects

The fight against climate change also involves carbon offset projects. In 2024, Upcoop supported the Belin-Béliet project in Gironde, which aims to reforest 21.5 hectares destroyed by fire. Backed by the Low Carbon Label, this project combines biodiversity, local job creation and carbon sequestration estimated at 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ over 30 years.

In total, four French companies within the Group are participating in this initiative, which is part of our environmental approach. Our international subsidiaries are also taking action: in Italy, through a national project between Emilia-Romagna and Veneto; in Germany, through an annual emissions analysis and appropriate compensation measures.