Decarbonization, a new engine of economic competitiveness - Auchan Romania contributes to accelerating the transition of the agri-food chain through the Climate Supplier Event
In the context in which agri-food systems are responsible for almost one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, Auchan Romania assumes an active role in the transition of its supply chain toward a more sustainable model.
In the context in which agri-food systems are responsible for almost one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, Auchan Romania assumes an active role in the transition of its supply chain toward a more sustainable model.
At the second edition of the Climate Supplier Event, organized under the aegis of the Climate Change Summit, the company brought together over 100 producers and suppliers to begin measuring emissions and to intensify decarbonization actions, strengthening their resilience and competitiveness. We speak with Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Sustainability Director of Auchan Romania, about the importance of this effort, the concrete steps taken and what a food chain prepared for the future means.
What prompted you to organize a new edition of the Climate Supplier Event and what were the main objectives of this meeting?
Corina Dospinoiu-Imre: We considered it the right moment to accelerate collaboration with our suppliers. The main objective of this edition was to create a framework for dialogue through which we could discover what the opportunities are for streamlining business processes, what we stand to gain from an economic perspective, and to understand together how we measure the carbon footprint, what the reduction levers are and how we can support our partners to adopt sustainable practices through education and financing programs. By bringing together over 100 suppliers at the Climate Supplier Event, we aim to generate a transformation at the supply chain level, which has the effect of a quantifiable reduction of carbon emissions in the near future.
Why do you consider that this event is relevant not only for Auchan suppliers, but for the entire food industry in Romania?
Corina Dospinoiu-Imre: A major event such as the Climate Supplier Event is relevant both for Auchan suppliers and for the entire food industry in Romania, because food chains function as an interconnected system. If only one retailer or a few producers act, the impact remains limited. Agriculture, processing, logistics, packaging, all these elements contribute to generating emissions, costs and competitiveness. This is why our event is about how the entire sector can become more efficient, more sustainable and more resilient in the face of climate change.
How does Auchan support local suppliers in the transition to more sustainable business models?
Corina Dospinoiu-Imre: We launched the Partners for Decarbonization program in which we collaborate directly with suppliers to measure their emissions and to develop plans to reduce them. Also, to support Auchan suppliers, for the first time, through the partnership with BRD – Groupe Société Générale, the bank offers our suppliers access to an extended range of sustainable financing options, from which they can choose depending on the specifics of their company’s activity. By accessing these instruments, companies can quickly reduce operational costs related to energy, logistics and resources, and in time they strengthen their competitiveness and their capacity to manage climate risks. In addition, a responsible approach visibly increases their credibility and opens easier access to financing that requires clear sustainability criteria.
