As the world's second largest retailer, the Carrefour  Group is commited to democratize and promote sustaianble consumption. The Group is thus developping own brand and banner brand products affordable to evey budget and which integrate environmental criteria.

In order to help its customers to give meaning to their consumption, the Group offers an increasingly wide choice of products covering all aspects of sustainable development: organic, environmentally-friendlier products, or products linked to a social solidarity project, and so on. The spearheads of this approach are the Carrefour Quality Line products and the Carrefour AGIR range, which included over 100 new products in 2008.

Democratizing responsible consumption

There is increasing demand from consumers for products and services that are respectful of people and the environment, but they are often sold at prices that act as a disincentive for most people. Carrefour believes that mass-market retailing has a major role to play in transforming this from a niche market into a mass market. This is why Carrefour lists responsible national brand products and above all develops its own ranges by working closely with suppliers in order to improve the working and environmental conditions under which they are manufactured.

Encourage consumers to switch to responsible products

First and foremost the Group offers a wide range of own-brand “responsible” products that are accessible to the largest number of people. Carrefour promotes them in its catalogues and on its websites, but also as part of specific communications campaigns or major thematic events: World Environment Day, Sustainable Development Week, European Sustainable Energy Week, Fair Trade Fortnight, etc.

Surveys show that Carrefour action on prices has proved successful. Organic products, for example, cost an average of 30% less in its stores than in specialist outlets. Carrefour is now the leading seller of organic products in France and looks set to consolidate its position still further, as the organic product range will feature strongly in the Carrefour Market supermarkets. In addition, Carrefour is the leading seller of fair-trade products in France and  offers the widest range of own-brand MSC products. Everything points to the fact that the Group's ambition to democratize responsible consumption is taking shape.

• Organic products: a year full of new developments

Helping as many people as possible to access quality organic products: this is the aim of the Carrefour AGIR Bio range, which includes 250 listed products with an AB label or certified by Écocert. In 2008, the Group was the first retailer to launch a range of organic cosmetics for all the family, backed by a communications campaign. The range consists of 18 listed products certified by Écocert and is available in several European countries. The second new development is a range of organically produced cotton textiles certified by Oeko-Tex, including over one million items covering babies’, children’s and adult clothing, and bed linen. At stake are tangible benefits for customers, growers and the environment (with restrictions on the use of chemical substances from cultivation through to the finished product).

• Carrefour Agir Solidaire: access to fair trade for the largest number of consumers

The Group markets and promotes 621 fair-trade listed products in six countries. The Carrefour AGIR Solidaire range combines both fair-trade products (Flo-cert or Écocert certified) and solidarity products, the sales of which help to support humanitarian associations. In addition to its 21 Max Havelaarlabelled listed products, the range now includes Carrefour AGIR Solidaire organic quinoa, introduced in 2008, the first product in the range to comply with ESR specifications. For each packet sold, Carrefour pays 10 euro centimes to the NGO Point d’Appui, which finances humanitarian projects in Bolivia. Both standards are based on specifications including environmental, social and economic criteria that recognize fair-trade products.

• Carrefour Quality Lines: a sustainable approach based on partnership

Launched in 1992, the Carrefour Quality Lines include fresh produce sourced from local suppliers. Our suppliers work within a framework based on long-term partnerships and make commitments both on product quality and managing environmental impacts. The Quality Lines thus contribute to promoting agricultural heritage whilst also guaranteeing the best value for money and ensuring our partners are paid a fair price. In 2008, Carrefour launched its first Quality Line in Romania, whilst other countries increased their number of products: Thailand, for example, launched four new quality lines (mandarin oranges, organic lettuce, seabass and white prawns). By the end of 2008, the Group had 418 Quality Lines in 15 countries.

• Promoting responsible fishing products

Carrefour offers a wide range of fresh and frozen seafood products (between 70 and 80 different species). The extent and diversity of the range makes this an important product for the Group whose role it is to provide customers with affordable products far into the future, while preventing the environmental, economic and social risks related to the depletion of fish stocks.  In 2008 Carrefour  improved on its MSC range offering 18 products and making it the French leader in MSC own brand products. Furthermore, after several years of progressive reduction, Carrefour has decided to stop selling Mediterranean bluefin tuna. The Group also endeavours to promote local fishing. The "Fishermen of our Coast" range sold in supermarkets in France offers products fished locally in season and dispatched rapidly to our stores.

With its Quality Lines, for several years the Group has been developing an offer based on fish farmed according to environmentally-friendly practices. A new step accompanied with the WWF has been passed in 2008 with the launch of Carrefour AGIR Eco Planète Madagascar shrimps, farmed according to even more stringent requirements: no removal of brood stock fish from natural environments, a strict policy of biosecurity to prevent the use of medecines, the monitoring of fish, water and surrounding fauna and flora. This initiative also includes a social agenda which entails the construction of a school and a clinic.

• Carrefour Agir Eco Planète: Reconciling respect for the environment with purchasing power

The Carrefour AGIR Éco Planète range is marketed in several countries and is made up of “core market” products in both the food and non-food sectors, with the aim of minimizing their environmental impact. All are certified (European ecolabel, FSC , MSC etc.) or are backed by an external guarantee. In 2008, the Group offered a range of 42 Carrefour AGIR Éco Planète non-food products. Having strengthened its Household and Personal Care (HPC) range, which now includes a total of 18 listed products, in 2008 Carrefour concentrated on responsible fishing products: 18 new MSC-certified frozen, smoked and fresh products were launched.

       

 

• Promoting energy saving among consumers

In order to encourage consumers to change their energy habits, Carrefour is promoting low energy light bulbs: 10 own brand products have been developed and 100 products are being sold for €5-10 in hypermarkets. In France, hypermarkets sold 100,000 bulbs in one day at a special offer price of €1. The Group also participated in the European Sustainable Energy Week, with six countries (Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Poland) actively promoting various initiatives: highlighting energy-saving products and raising customer awareness on sorting waste and eco-friendly behaviour. Lastly, by launching the Carrefour Energie Eco Planet offering in Belgium, the Group became the first retailer in Europe to offer households the option of switching to easy-to-use 100% green gas and electricity without any additional cost in comparison with conventional energy. This type of offer is now also available in France.

• Promoting FSC certified wood products

Regarding its wood offer and more particularly wood garden furniture, Carrefour discontinued sales of Teak in France in 2006, and Keruing the following year. In 2008, the Group's international purchasing office confirmed its commitment to forest protection. Its assortment of outdoor furniture included only  FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified products - FSC Amburana, FSC Eucalyptus- and Accacia a species not on the IUCN list of endangered species  and currently being in a process of certification with  the VFTN (Vietnam Forest and Trade Network).