Energy & Climate
Saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are key objectives of the Migros Group. In 2018, it increased energy efficiency and replaced fossil fuels with renewable energy.
The Migros Group companies are steadily reducing their power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Most 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 2018, the Migros Group also decided to gradually phase out HCFC refrigerants, which have high global warming potential. The new cooling systems use natural refrigerants or those with low global warming potential that cause minimal harm to the environment.
Focus 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 2018, Cooperative Retailing had reduced power consumption in the branches and logistics enterprises by 9.8% since 2010 in absolute terms. In the same period, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 22.4%. This reduction was due in particular to the use of LED lighting and CO2 cooling systems, as well as building technology improvements in the branches. In 2018, Migros operated 66% of its Cooperative Retailing stores with cooling systems using the natural refrigerant CO2.
In 2018, Migros operated three supermarkets and specialist markets that produce more energy than they consume over the course of a year – plus-energy branches. The concept is based on an intelligent combination of energy efficiency measures and the production of solar power by means of photovoltaic systems on the roofs.
Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions were as follows in Cooperative Retailing:
Power consumption
Specific energy consumption, branches
Specific greenhouse gas emissions, branches
Promotion of renewable energy
As a pioneer in the field, Migros is generating more and more electricity with photovoltaic systems on its roofs, and is replacing fossil fuels with heat from renewable sources.
Electricity from solar energy
In 2018, two new photovoltaic systems with an installed output of 500 kWp each were put into operation on the roofs of Aproz and Bischofszell Nahrungsmittel AG. More than 95% of the solar power produced is consumed by the companies themselves. This means that a total of about 960 MWh less electricity is drawn from the grid annually – enough to supply 320 average households.
At the end of 2018, the Migros Group owned 283 photovoltaic plants with an installed output of 29'742 kWp. They generate 28'817 MWh of power annually, which corresponds to the power consumption of about 9'600 average households.
Development of photovoltaic plants owned by Migros
