A symbolic act. Before signing, on 29 January, the agreement promoting sustainable commerce with the Fédération des Entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution (Federation of Commercial and Distribution Enterprises), Jean-Louis BORLOO, Minister of State and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, visited the Carrefour store in Saint-Quentin en Yvelines with Jacques Beauchet, Carrefour Group Managing Director. The store has been praised for its exemplary initiatives to promote sustainable development.

Chosen to illustrate the industry's efforts, the Carrefour store in Saint-Quentin en Yvelines is a prime example of Carrefour's expertise in sustainable construction and responsible business. For example, it sells a range of 700 organic products and displays signs to highlight ecologically responsible products. Eric Duveau, Store Manager, and Sandrine Mercier, Sustainable Development Manager France, pointed out to the Minister that the store has a revegetated roof, and that 45% of its waste is recycled.

The Minister had planned on making his visit to the store before signing, with Jérôme Bédier, president of the FCD (Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution), an organization made up of 26,000 sales points in France, an agreement containing 5-year commitments relating to sustainable development.

This agreement is part of the �Grenelle de l'ennvironnement� and includes numerous commitments. By this agreement, distribution enterprises like Carrefour Group France commit for example to double the number of eco-label products on the market within three years, to increase the share of organically grown products by 15%, to further reduce the packaging waste by at least 10% and to universally take part in the effort to conduct reviews of greenhouse gases in order to get carbon emissions under control and improve the energy efficiency of stores.

(photo : MEDAD/SIC)