GlobalX Climate Change - Christine Wiederkehr-Luther, Head Sustainability at Migros Group

TL;DR

Christine Vidakera, Head of Sustainability at Micro Group, discusses the company's comprehensive sustainability strategy and initiatives, including their focus on climate action, supply chain sustainability, and customer engagement.

Transcript

okay let's start welcome back everyone i am very excited to kick off our second keynote speech after a great start last week today we have uh christine vidakera here she is um head sustainability of nego micro was the first company that i thought about when we started compiling the slate of keynote speeches for this global exploration and i had ini... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Micro Group's sustainability efforts are guided by their founder's belief in corporate social responsibility, dating back to the 1940s and 1950s.
• 🎯 The company's focus on climate action is demonstrated through their targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and their emphasis on reducing CO2 emissions throughout the value chain.
• 🥡 Micro Group takes a holistic approach to sustainability, considering not only their own operations but also the upstream and downstream emissions associated with their products.
• 💁 The company engages customers through transparency initiatives like sustainability labeling and carbon footprint information, as well as offering options to offset their purchases' CO2 emissions.
• 🧚 Micro Group's commitment to sustainability extends to their supply chain, with initiatives in place to ensure fair working conditions and sustainable sourcing of raw materials.
• 🪛 The company recognizes the importance of digitalization in driving sustainability efforts, including blockchain technology and innovations in e-commerce.
• ⛓️ Micro Group's sustainability efforts have financial implications, and they have implemented a climate fund to support climate actions along the value chain.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Micro Group ensure fair working conditions and sustainable raw materials in its supply chain?

Micro Group works with foreign business social compliance initiatives to ensure fair working conditions in their supply chain. They also strive to use sustainable raw materials, such as palm oil and soy, in their products.

Q: How does Micro Group address downstream emissions?

Micro Group takes into account the emissions generated by customer transportation and product usage in their downstream emissions calculations. They aim to reduce these emissions through initiatives like promoting sustainable transportation options.

Q: How does Micro Group incentivize customers to make more sustainable purchases?

Micro Group has implemented a sustainability labeling system called M-Check, which provides clear information on the sustainability measures of a product. They also offer customers the option to offset their purchases' CO2 emissions through a climate fund.

Q: How does Micro Group handle recycling and waste management?

Micro Group has a comprehensive take-back system in place, allowing customers to return items like plastic bottles, electronic appliances, and batteries for recycling. While they do not own recycling facilities, they are considering investing in a sorting plant for mixed plastics.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Christine Vidakera, Head of Sustainability at Micro Group, discusses the company's sustainability strategy and initiatives.

• Micro Group focuses on climate action, with targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and a commitment to reduction of CO2 emissions.

• The company also emphasizes supply chain sustainability, with initiatives in fair working conditions, sustainable raw materials, and environmentally friendly transportation.

• Micro Group engages customers through sustainability labeling, carbon footprint transparency, and a comprehensive take-back system for recycling.