Reducing our emissions by 60% by 2030

We are aware that our activities as a retailer contribute to climate change through emissions of greenhouse gasses and consumption of natural resources. We therefore strive to reduce the emissions from our own operations by 60% by 2030. Energy use in our stores, distribution centres and outbound logistics (like transport of products from distribution centres to stores) emit greenhouse gases. These direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) are at the heart of our energy and emission reduction strategy. Our ambition is to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2030 (versus the 2021 baseline).

Our measures helped bring down emissions from our own operations by 11% in 2023 despite continued growth in our network of stores and distribution centres, putting us on course to meet our 2030 target.

Our stores

During 2023, we extended the use of LED lighting to 99.8% of our stores, installed more solar panels and introduced new smart meters, which allow us to keep a close track of energy consumption.

All new stores opened in 2023 operate without gas, which meant in total, we finished the year with 88% of stores operating without a gas supply. Across the year, we also disconnected 300 Action stores from the main gas supply – meaning we have just 63 more stores to disconnect in 2024 to reach our aim of all stores operating without gas.

We increased our use of cleaner, renewable energy. Around 90% of electricity for our stores now comes from green sources. During the year, we also began using biodiesel in 150 Action-owned trucks and piloted four new zero-emission e-trucks at distribution centres in the Netherlands and Germany.

Waste stream stores

Our distribution centres

We have now installed solar panels at seven Action distribution centres across Europe, part of our plan to use more renewable energy and reduce our carbon footprint. In 2023, electricity produced by these panels equated to 63% of our centres’ total energy use. By the end of the year, 74 of our stores had access to solar panels.

Our distribution centres are build based on the latest technological construction requirements for ecological and environmentally friendly operations, in alignment with BREEAM standards, an international rating system for sustainable building constructions.

We run our distribution centres in an energy efficient manner: in and around the distribution centres, we use electric transport to limit CO2 emissions and reduce noise and exhaust levels on site. Our distribution centres are fitted with LED lights and light sensors, reducing energy consumption. To identify further energy saving potential, we regularly conduct energy audits and update functional specifications to include these audit findings.

Product transportation

Our innovative double-decker trucks can carry 60% more freight than conventional trucks.

150 Action trucks are now running on biodiesel from DC Echt and Zwaagdijk (NL). The switch to biodiesel follows the successful pilot at the head office in Zwaagdijk to investigate the effects of HVO 100. Biofuels, such as HVO, are an important interim solution to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the short term. This switch to biodiesel reduces emissions from these trucks by 90%.

The first of our fully electric trucks were commissioned in February. These trucks boast a 540 kWh battery and have a range of more than 200km. They’ll operate out of our distribution centres at Echt and Biblis. The trucks are part of a trial to learn more about electric transport – and determine to what extent we’re able to use electric vehicles in our logistics.

Managing our waste streams

Cardboard and plastic are collected in the stores and distribution centres and recycled. At our distribution centres, we compress the volume of cardboard and plastic before it is passed on to recycling facilities. By reducing the volume, we can transport these materials more efficiently, which helps minimise CO2 emissions. The compressed bales also comply with the recycling facilities’ standard way of working, so no extra handling is required.

We prevent plastic use by only stretch wrapping the upper part of the roll containers, saving an estimated 30% in plastics compared to fully wrapping each container. We also process damaged and returned products, primarily to avoid these products becoming waste. Other waste streams are separated so they can be recycled or processed separately. We also reuse and recycle our store materials and provide our customers with an organised way to dispose of batteries, light bulbs and small electrical appliances.

Throughout the year, when stores are refurbished, enlarged or relocated, we also demount, collect, sort and store racking for reuse or recycling. Store checkouts are refit, restyled to comply with current format standards and reused after a store refurbishment.