The Group is developing a proactive policy to conserve the natural resources of forests, saes and earth. With regard to wood supplies, carrefour is prioritizing certified wood for the production of its furniture products and garden decorations. As for sea resources, the Group initiated a Repsonsible Fishing approach in 2004. The Group is also encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices: organic farming and integrated farming.

Responsible sourcing : the examples wood and fisheries products

Responsible fishing approach

  

Giving the crutial problem of over-exploitation of ocean resources, and decreasing fish stocks, the Group has decided to promote sustainable fishing which contribute to a sustainable management of resources. Thus, after having launched the Responsible Fishing Cod in 2004, it has launched in 2005 in France and Belgium four new own-brand Responsible fishing listed products of frozen filets (catfish, dab, redfish and halibut). These products, recognizable thanks to their Responsible Fishing icon guarantee the conservation of stocks and environmental protection due to controlled requirements and maximum traceability. The Group has opted for an overall biological approach and fishing techniques offering maximum respect for the ecosystem.

In the fresh seafood department, the Carrefour group has decided to promote herbivores species, to limit to the maximum the inclusion of deep-water species within its catalogues and to favour the aquaculture of shrimps by Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) members.Moreover, starting 2007, the French Hypermarkets plan to propose several MSC ( Marine Stewardship Council) products, starting with two salmon products and one US Alaska hake fillet product.

The Group attempts through this approach to raise other economic players’ and consumers’ awareness on this kind of products.

Prioritizing certified wood

Within its proactive policy to conserve the natural resources, the Carrefour Group is prioritizing certified wood for the production of its furniture products and garden decorations.
Carrefour has been working since 1998 with the WWF to develop FSC-certified wood. The Group has signed the European FLEGT proposal, a regulatory plan for fighting illegal trade in wood. Through committed to the process of traceability regarding teak, Carrefour has hindered by the fall in the price of teak products and so decided to drop Teak in 2006 in favour of Amburana from South America. This voluntary approach was implemented in 2006 in several European countries ( France, Belgium and Italy). This FSC-certified species meets the criteria of traceability and resource conservation and guarantees quality at a price accessible to the consumer.

In each country where it operates, the Carrefour Group tries to buy locally in every country where we operate. This policy reduces the length of supply chains, in turn minimizing their environmental impact

The Palm oil issue

To respond to the ever-increasing demand for oil, the palm oil sector has to face a number of issues. Unfortunately, its production goes hand in hand with social ( working conditions) and environmental (destruction of the primary forest, disapearence of biodiversity) problems. The Carrefour group is aware of these issues and in 2006 joined the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil ( RSPO) initiative to work with other members