Planet

Reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75% by 2030​

In 2025, we raised our scope 1 and 2 emission reduction target from 60% to 75% by 2030 compared with our 2021 baseline. This covers emissions from our own operations and purchased energy.

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. ​
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Our measures helped bring down emissions from our own operations by 9% in 2024 despite continued growth in our network of stores and distribution centres, putting us on course to meet our 2030 target.​

Our stores

  • All* Action stores are now gas-free, and use renewable electricity instead.
    *67 stores uses externally provided heating (e.g. district heating). For these stores, it is unknown if the stores are connected to gas.
  • We have increased energy efficiency by installing smart meters and LED lighting at our stores. We have installed more solar panels, which allow us to keep a close track of energy consumption.​

Our transportation

  • Our innovative double-decker trucks can carry 60% more freight than conventional trucks.
  • Action’s own trucks in the Netherlands now use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100) – a renewable diesel that reduces emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel. Switching to these trucks will reduce emissions from transport between our distribution centres and stores. ​
  • We pilot the use of fully electric trucks in the Netherlands and Germany.

Our distribution centres

  • We have solar panels at xx Action distribution centres across Europe, increasing our access to renewable energy and reducing our reliance on often congested electricity grids.​
  • 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 greenhouse gas 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.​
  • We engage with landlords to increase renewable energy use where possible at our distribution centres. We estimate that around 90% of our electricity consumption now comes from clean, renewable sources. ​

Managing our waste streams

Recycling

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 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.​

Prevent plastic use

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. ​
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Partners

We are engaging directly with suppliers and step up our recycling efforts and initiatives to reduce product and packaging waste. We also committed that 80% of our suppliers by emissions will have science-based targets by 2029 (scope 3).We have also put agreements in place with sea freight carriers to use eco-fuels when shipping products from Asia. In 2024, these eco-fuels reduced emissions by 42495 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.