Responsible actions are the top priority

Migros is a cooperative and therefore not committed to the profit of investors, but interested in socially sustainable growth for the benefit of all. Being successful means providing sustainable services for Migros. Migros therefore has a long tradition of commitment to social and societal issues, animal welfare and environmental protection. As such, the retailer created Migros Culture Percentage 55 years ago and started saving energy more than 35 years ago.

The principle of sustainability expressly set out in the company mission and group strategy of Migros. «We are committed to creating sustainable values for our stakeholders by balancing the economic, ecological and social dimensions of our business activities,» it states. As a member of the UN Global Compact, Migros is also committed to striving for the international basic values as regards human rights, labour law, environmental protection and in the fight against corruption, and to supporting these within its area of influence.

Sustainability in practice

The top responsibility for sustainable growth is borne by the Federation of Migros Cooperatives, FMC. Specialist departments and line managers in all companies of the Group oversee the implementation of social and ecological concerns. The Issue Management & Sustainability department is the central platform for the sustainability policy and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. It works with the companies' specialist departments of Migros Group.

To control and monitor its sustainability services, Migros continuously adjusts its management tools. On the basis of key performance indicators (KPIs), not only business, but also social and environment-related company achievements, such as the level of fulfilment of the BSCI Code of Conduct and CO2 emissions, can be controlled. The Executive Board can thus consider equally aspects of profitability, the environment and social issues in its decisions.

Basic requirements for the entire Migros Group

In its core business – Cooperative Retailing – Migros set the social and ecological standards already early on. In 2011 the management created further foundations to place sustainable actions even more strongly at the foundations of individual companies. As such, it decided to roll out social and ecological basic requirements on the basis of its existing practice that apply for the entire Migros Group. In addition to the 10 regional cooperatives, the same directives are now used in all retail and industry companies. The directives contain, for instance, the BSCI Code of Conduct, aspects on food safety and on animal welfare as well as on the protection of global fisheries and rainforests. In 2012 Migros is launching the Generation M sustainability campaign. In doing so, the company aims to make its ecological and social services more visible and support its customers to act sustainably themselves.

Promote responsible consumption

Private consumption – in particular of food – is responsible for a large proportion of pollution. The Migros cooperatives are aware of their responsibility at the meeting point between demand and supply. For this reason, shelves are stocked with products that are produced with respect for people, animals and the environment. The retailer demands that all suppliers comply with international standards. As well as the high standard of its normal range, Migros also stocks a range of label products that offer particular ecological or social added value.

Private consumption is responsible for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and is therefore also a driving factor in the climate issue. As retail forms a bridge between producers and consumers, it plays a central role in promoting climate protection. As a responsible retailer, Migros extended and expanded its energy and climate strategy last year. As part of this strategy, the company is not only reducing its own greenhouse gases, but supporting consumers with a broad range and the declaration of climate-protecting products.

Exemplary corporate environmental protection

Migros operates a comprehensive, corporate environmental management system. The Migros Lucerne Cooperative and the industrial enterprises Chocolat Frey AG, Aproz SA and Scana AG are also ISO 14001 certified. In all important areas of environmental protection, Migros has binding targets – for example in relation to energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption, the use of refrigerants, and waste. Every year, Migros carries out an audit to ensure that operating units are on track and implements corrections where applicable. In 2011 Migros decided to expand its environmental and energy management to all companies of the Migros Group in coming years. Migros won the Energy Globe Award for this long-standing commitment to the environment in 2011.

In dialogue with people and society

Migros focuses its varied commitment on mankind. In doing so, it makes an extraordinary commitment to society and culture; for instance, it gives more than CHF 100 million annually to Migros Culture Percentage and supports development projects conducted by the Aid Fund. Migros is in a permanent dialogue with numerous stakeholders. The company communicates quickly and openly. Migros is interested, on the one hand, in other people's views and tries as far as possible to accommodate legitimate interests. At the same time, Migros aims to generate understanding of its own concerns. The forms of dialogue are varied and range from occasional, informal meetings to membership through to closer cooperation in partnership.

Contact with its customers is hugely important for Migros. In doing so, the retailer not only aims to inform transparently, but also wants to exchange information. Migros would like to know what drives people who shop at their branches, what they would like and where they want to be supported. Every year, Migros conducts a series of customer surveys and every three years a representative survey of Migros’ reputation amongst stakeholders. In addition to customers, the respondents include employees, suppliers, farmers and opinion leaders from politics and officials, media representatives, unions, associations and NGOs. They regard Migros as one of the three companies with the best reputation in Switzerland. Numerous surveys show that Migros enjoys a high level of credibility in the population and is one of the most popular companies in Switzerland.