Assaí Atacadista is one of the companies in the retail sector that has intensified its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and advance the energy transition of its operations.
With ambitious planning, Assaí seeks to reach the milestone of 100% renewable energy consumption by the end of this year, prioritizing sources such as solar, wind and biomass.
In addition to migrating its stores to the Free Energy Market, the company also invests in distributed generation and modernization of its refrigeration systems, adopting more efficient technologies to mitigate environmental impacts.
Em interview ao Canal Solar, the company's project manager, Lucas Attademo, detailed the company's main sustainable initiatives, which have already resulted in a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in scopes 1 and 2.
To understand the relevance of this advance, it is important to highlight that carbon emissions are classified into three categories by the GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol), an internationally recognized standard for measuring the environmental impact of companies and institutions:
- Scope 1: direct emissions generated by the company's own operations, such as the use of fossil fuels in fleets and industrial processes.
- Scope 2: indirect emissions from the consumption of electrical, thermal or steam energy purchased from third parties.
- Scope 3: indirect emissions throughout the organization's value chain, including transportation of inputs, disposal of products and environmental impact of suppliers and customers.
Categorizing these emissions allows companies to identify their main sources of pollution and adopt more effective strategies to mitigate them.
In the interview, the Assaí executive also commented on the challenges of decarbonization, the benefits of sustainable solutions and the network's plans to engage suppliers and partners in adopting responsible environmental practices.
Check out the full interview below:
Assaí reduced scope 10 and 1 greenhouse gas emissions by 2%. When did the company decide to step up its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and what factors motivated this initiative?
The company's work on climate change has been ongoing for a long time and, since 2016, Assaí has incorporated climate change metrics into the variable remuneration of all its leadership.
Like other topics in the company, this agenda has evolved. And in 2021, when it became an independent company, Assaí strengthened its strategy to combat climate change, improving its ESG policies.
Later that year, the company set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 38% by 2030, based on 2015 levels.
At the time, Assaí operated about a third of the current number of stores (today there are 302), which highlights the company's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, even in the midst of its expansion.
In 2024, the company launched a new sustainability positioning, expanding its guidelines with the aim of driving prosperity for all people, which is also the Company's purpose and permeates its entire operation.
In the ESG field, the strategy reinforces responsibility and transparency in operations, in addition to the search for less environmental impact, both internally and in its value chain.
All actions on the ESG front are structured around three pillars: Efficient Operations, People and Community Development, and Ethical and Transparent Management.
What were the main actions implemented by Assaí to date to achieve this reduction in carbon emissions? Is there any initiative that stood out in this process? And what are the company's next steps to accelerate its decarbonization journey? Does this include investments in solar energy or other renewable sources?
Among the initiatives, in scope 1, which covers direct emissions from operations, 85% of emissions are related to refrigerant gases used to cool counters and air-condition stores.
To mitigate this impact, the company continually invests in modernizing its refrigeration systems, replacing old equipment with technologies that use natural gases with lower global warming potential (GWP).
Currently, stores operate with more efficient refrigeration systems, significantly reducing GHG emissions and optimizing the units' energy consumption.
In scope 2, which refers to the consumption of purchased electricity, Assaí has been expanding the use of clean energy in its operations.
In 2016, we inaugurated our first solar plant installed on the roof of one of our stores, expanding this model to other regions.
In 2019, we began migrating to the Free Energy Market, in which we prioritize renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass and small hydroelectric plants. Today, 97% of stores already operate under this model, and the goal is to reach 100% by 2025.
Regarding scope 3, which is based on operations that are not owned or directly controlled by the organization, Assaí has ongoing work to raise awareness among its suppliers.
One example is the Log Award, aimed at Assaí suppliers and their logistics operations, which has had a Sustainability category since 2023 and rewards the most efficient operations that are able to continually reduce their environmental impact. In the latest edition of the Award, 80% of the company's largest suppliers demonstrated a commitment to progress in this agenda.
In addition to operating in the Free Energy Market, does Assaí have plans to expand the use of distributed generation or other energy solutions within its operations?
We are committed to sustainable and innovative renewable energy solutions for both our operations and our customers. We currently have strategic partnerships, such as the one we have with Raízen, Flora Energia (an Auren company) and Fit (a Santander Group company) for distributed generation (DG), offering renewable energy and savings on energy bills to our customers.
In addition, we have been studying projects in other modalities, aligned with our commitment to consume 100% renewable energy in all stores by the end of the year through self-production models. We are closely monitoring market trends, including regulatory changes, grid infrastructure and expanding access to renewable energy.
We continue to invest in partnerships and select suppliers that share the same sustainability and environmental responsibility criteria that guide our business. Our goal is not only to meet current demands, but also to contribute to a more efficient and sustainable market in the future.
The use of renewable energy is a strategic pillar for Assaí, and we work to ensure that all our projects meet the highest criteria of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
In addition to using renewable energy, does Assaí adopt other strategies to reduce its carbon footprint, such as logistics optimization or combating waste?
Yes. On the logistics front, for example, we work to encourage efficient logistics, taking into the care taken with pollutant emissions, especially those of scope 3, that is, from Assaí's partners and suppliers.
We also have initiatives to engage our suppliers in order to establish a relationship that contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, delving deeper into the results obtained to prepare diagnoses of pollutant reduction throughout the logistics chain.
On the front line of combating waste, I would like to highlight our Destino Certo program, which selects fruits, vegetables and greens with no commercial value, but in perfect condition for consumption, donating them to hundreds of social organizations throughout the country that serve vulnerable populations.
Currently, the program is already present in 94% of stores, totaling more than 1.975 tons of organic waste diverted from landfills via donations to social institutions, avoiding 1.331,68 tCO2e of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Does Assaí have initiatives to engage suppliers and partners in practices that contribute to the environment? Are there programs aimed at encouraging more sustainable production chains?
Among our initiatives we have the Log Award, which recognizes suppliers with the best logistics performance throughout the year, in various evaluation criteria including sustainability, which values practices aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the logistics chain.
Companies participating in this category are evaluated based on criteria such as the use of alternative fuels, implementation of route optimization technologies and efficient driving, in addition to the preparation of greenhouse gas emissions inventories in a final calculation of the scores.
In addition to the logistics chain, we also operate in chains that pose a higher risk of deforestation, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2016, we have implemented the Socio-Environmental Beef Purchasing Policy, which engages our suppliers in the commitment to zero deforestation.
Is the network seeking environmental certifications or seals to validate its sustainability practices and renewable energy consumption? Are there any new certifications in the pipeline?
For three consecutive years, we have been included in the ISE – Corporate Sustainability Index of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3), an indicator of the average performance of the share prices of companies selected for their recognized commitment to corporate sustainability, and we are also classified among the companies that are committed to climate management and transparency in the disclosure of carbon emissions, called the Carbon Efficient Index (CO2 B3).
In addition, the company received a B rating from CDP (Disclosure Insight Action), one of the main measurement and disclosure programs for efficient management of risks related to carbon emissions and climate change, due to the robustness of our agenda.
We also have a Gold Seal in the Public Emissions Registry of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program, which is the highest level of recognition for companies that demonstrate compliance with all transparency criteria in the publication of their data audited by a third party.
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