Strategies and targets for sustainability are integrated into ICA Gruppen’s group strategy “Ambition 2030”, where one of the four overall ambition areas is to make it easier for customers to make sustainable choices. ICA Gruppen's operations shall be industry leaders in their markets, and drive development towards reduced climate impact and a more modern and sustainable food supply. They must also be the best in their respective markets when it comes to helping and inspiring customers to make sustainable choices.
ICA Gruppen also works with several prioritized sustainability issues based on a materiality analysis that is revised every year.
ICA Gruppen’s sustainability targets
To urge on and follow up the sustainability work, ICA Gruppen sets central targets for the most prioritized areas, which are supplemented by targets within each company and for specific issues. Targets and outcomes for the most important overall sustainability targets are presented below.
Since 2012, ICA Gruppen has published externally reviewed interim and annual reports on sustainability work at group level. More targets and indicators are reported in these, as well as a summary of strategic efforts during the respective quarter or year.
ICA Gruppen must have net zero emissions in our own operations by 2030
ICA Gruppen's long-term ambition is to reduce the climate footprint in the entire value chain, in line with 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement and net zero emissions. The target for ICA Gruppen's own operations includes emissions from goods transport, stores/pharmacies, warehouses, and offices. Since 2020 emissions from ICA Gruppen’s own operations have been offset in their entirety.
GHG emissions from ICA Gruppen's own operations in 2023 amounted to 92,887 tonnes, a minor increase compared to the previous year. Reductions in climate impact have mainly occurred in emissions from refrigerants and energy, while emissions from goods transport continue to increase due to a reduced share of renewable fuels.
Outcome
2023 |
2022 | 2021 | |
Carbon emissions in own operations (Tonnes of CO2e) | 92,887 | 92,559 | 78,791 |
Carbon emissions in own operations (Tonnes of CO2e / MSEK turnover) | 0.63 | 0.68 | 0.62 |
ICA Gruppen will cut food waste from warehouses and stores by half by 2025
Food accounts for roughly a fourth of the total global carbon footprint. It is therefore of utmost importance to take care of the food that is produced. ICA Gruppen’s target is to cut food waste in half by 2025 compared with 2016. The target applies for both warehouses and stores as well as for the Swedish and Baltic operations. Food waste is measured using an international standard created by the Food Loss & Waste (FLW) Protocol. Preventive work is at the centre of ICA’s work with food waste, including data-driven methods for improving purchasing forecasts. However, clearance sales and processing of surplus food in stores play an important role, as do various types of partnerships to donate food that remains edible to people in need.
Since the base year 2016, ICA Gruppen's food waste in relation to food sold has decreased by 26 percent, which means a significant improvement compared to previous year. ICA Sweden has continued their work on improving data collection and analysis to reduce food waste, and Rimi Baltic has accelerated the rate of reduction in both warehouses and stores through collaborations and data-driven solutions.
Outcome
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Food waste, weight share | 1.35% | 1.54% | 1.67% |
Food waste, development in % relative to base year 2016 | -26% | -16% | -8% |
ICA Gruppen wants to reduce the climate impact of customers' food purchases with 30 percent by 2030
A large part of the global climate impact comes from the production and consumption of food. Therefore, ICA do not only set targets to reduce its own emissions, but also to reduce the climate impact from customers' food purchases with 30 percent by 2030.
To achieve that target, active steps are being taken to reduce the climate impact of the products that are sold. For example, 70 percent of ICA Gruppen’s suppliers are to adopt science-based climate targets by 2025. In addition, there are several collaborations and initiatives to develop an attractive assortment with a smaller climate impact. Comprehensive efforts are also being made to change habits and behaviours by engaging with and inspiring customers to make climate-smart choices.
In 2023, the climate impact of food sold in ICA stores amounted to 1.71 kg CO2e/kg food sold, a decrease of four percent compared to 2022 when it amounted to 1.79 kg CO2e/kg food sold. A particular contribution to the reduction in climate impact came from lower sales of meat, fish and shellfish in 2023, while sales of vegetarian alternatives increased.
Outcome
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Climate impact from customers' food purchases (Kg Co2e/Kg food sold) | 1.71 | 1.79 | 1.78 |
% of suppliers with science-based climate targets | 50% | 36% | 34% |
More information about ICA Gruppen’s sustainability targets
See below for more information on ICA Gruppen’s sustainability goals, accounting principles for sustainability reporting, and last year’s sustainability report. All reports can be accessed here ›
ICA Gruppen’s Annual sustainability report 2023
Accounting principle 2024