Denmark: Coop's climate investment is OK
Considering the great focus on climate change throughout the world, Coop Denmark has set itself a goal of reducing its CO2 emissions by 75 percent by 2025.
They have come closer to that goal, as since 2018 they have managed to reduce CO2 emissions by 32 percent, according to their own calculations.
Part of the plan to put an end to greenhouse gas emissions has been to hire Jonas Engberg in the role of climate manager, but even before he took office in august, an extensive list of initiatives is already launched. Such as investments in solar panels, heat pumps and LED lights. The transport of goods from lorries to trains has been re-organized. More electric trucks are in use and the planting of ten public forests across the country have started.
Coop & OK
This is OK
OK is a Danish cooperative and energy company with more than 670 local petrol stations across the country.
OK also sells heating oil, electricity, natural gas, heat pumps.
Most OK's petrol plants are owned by independent consumer associations or Coop Denmark stores.
OK has the country's largest network of petrol stations in Denmark and will now also be the best covering on the map for e-mobility.
All customers will be able to use the charging stations. There is no subscription requirement, the customer just needs to download OK's app and get started.
Most recently, Coop, together with OK gasoline stations has started setting up five hundred electric car charging stations across the country, which will help to get the average consumer to choose electricity over petrol or diesel.
“The plan is that in 2025 there should be a 75 percent reduction in CO2 compared to 2018, while in 2030 we plan to be a climate positive,” says CEO in Coop Denmark Kræn Østergaard Nielsen.
“It is a systematic and long-lasting work in different areas that has led us to the result. And it requires continuing attention at all levels of the organization if it is to succeed,” Nielsen argues.
The agreement means that, in the first instance, five hundred charging stations will be set up in connection with SuperBrugsen, Kvickly, Dagli´Brugsen, Fakta and Coop 365 across the country.
For OK, this is an investment of a three-digit million amount in charging infrastructure at Coop's stores.
A hygiene factor
For the record, we owe it to our readers to mention that virtually all grocery chains around the world are investing heavily in climate. It is no longer a competitive factor, rather a hygiene factor.
For example, NorgesGruppen, Norway's leading grocery chain, aims to be climate neutral by 2030 and to be a driving force in turning the entire value chain for food towards the low-emission society of the future.
Coop Norge is also very concerned about the environment and emphasizes this in a number of contexts. The annual report for 2020 states that Coop Norge will run its business with the least possible environmental footprint. Coop's business strategy underlines that environmentally friendly and resource-saving solutions must be an integral part of the business.
Sources: Coop Denmark, Supermarkets, OK, NorgesGruppen.