Energy & Climate
Saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are key objectives of the Migros Group. In 2017, it increased energy efficiency, replaced fossil fuels with renewable energy and built highly sustainable branches.
The Migros Group companies are steadily reducing their power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the companies have agreed binding targets for CO2 reduction and energy efficiency with the state and cantons.
Reduction of energy consumption & greenhouse gas emissions
In order to achieve their objectives, the Migros Group companies focus primarily on saving energy. The second most important measure is the expansion of renewable energies. In addition, the companies use refrigerants with no or only very little global warming potential in their cooling systems, a measure that reduces greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants.
Cooperative Retailing
As part of its climate and energy strategy 2020 (KES2020), Cooperative Retailing has set itself the ambitious target of using 10% less power and emitting 20% less greenhouse gases between 2010 and 2020. Thus, it will save twice as much greenhouse gas emissions in this period as stipulated by the federal climate protection targets. The target of reducing energy consumption by 10% in absolute terms is also much more ambitious than the target set in the federal government's energy strategy 2050.
In 2017, Cooperative Retailing reduced power consumption in the branches and logistics enterprises since 2010 by 7.5% in absolute terms. In the same period, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 21.2%. This reduction was due in particular to the use of LED lighting, CO2 cooling systems and building technology improvements in the branches.
Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions were as follows in Cooperative Retailing:
Power consumption
Specific energy consumption, branches
Specific greenhouse gas emissions, branches
Cooperative Retailing was named a Green Cooling Leader by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) for the fourth time. In 2017, Migros operated 61% of its cooperative retail stores with cooling systems using the natural refrigerant CO2, which made a considerable contribution twardso reducing greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants.
Promotion of renewable energy
Migros reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency; it also generates electricity using its own photovoltaic systems, and replaces fossil fuels with heat from renewable sources.
Migros uses solar energy
Migros is a pioneer and Switzerland's biggest producer of solar power. At the end of 2017, the Migros Group owned 280 photovoltaic plants with an installed output of 27'832 kWp. They generate 26'960 MWh of power annually, which corresponds to the power consumption of almost 8'990 average households.
Development of photovoltaic plants owned by Migros
Plus-energy branches
In 2017, Migros operated three supermarkets and specialist markets that produce more energy than they consume over the course of a year. These plus-energy branches, as they are known, are located in Zuzwil (SG), Pfungen (ZH) and Amriswil (TG). The concept is based on an intelligent combination of energy efficiency measures and the production of solar power by means of PV systems on the roofs.
In the reporting year, the newly opened Migros plus-energy branch at Aachtal, Amriswil (TG) received the PlusEnergieBau Diploma from the Swiss Solar Agency. The branch produces 39% more energy than it consumes over the course of a year. Cooperative Retailing is steadily transferring the concept of the plus-energy branch to more supermarkets and specialist markets.
