De Bijenkorf aims to be climate-neutral by 2040

The Dutch department store chain has joined The Climate Pledge, a global partnership to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis. In concrete terms, de Bijenkorf has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2040, ten years earlier than stipulated in the Paris Agreement.

Commitments

De Bijenkorf is one of the 86 new signatories of The Climate Pledge, which now brings together more than 200 companies to fight against global warming. “It is encouraging that 86 companies – including some of the biggest household names in the world – have joined The Climate Pledge and committed to accelerating their actions to tackle climate change and doing their part to create a carbon-neutral economy”, said Christiana Figueres, former head of the UN Climate Commission and co-founder of Global Optimism.

To meet the target, de Bijenkorf will take action in several areas at once. For example, by 2025, all materials used must originate from certified sustainable sources. In addition, the chain will pioneer circular business models in the areas of resale, rental and repair. Finally, the retailer wants to involve and inspire partners, customers and employees through the platform bearing a name that translates into the future is green: detoekomstisgroen.com.

Signing the climate pledge also means that the department store chain will regularly measure and report greenhouse gas emissions. It will also have to implement strategies for efficiency improvement, the use of renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. Any remaining emissions can be offset under certain conditions to help achieve the targets.