The ‘Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World’ list revealed – Kesko ranked again the most sustainable grocery trade company in the world

KESKO INVESTOR NEWS 25.1.2021 AT 11.45

Kesko is the only Finnish company to have been on the Global 100 list every year since it was first established in 2005. This year, Kesko is the best company in the ‘Grocery and Diversified Stores’ category and thus ranks as the most sustainable grocery trade company in the world for the seventh consecutive year.

“Sustainability and combatting climate change are key strategic focus areas for Kesko. Ranking once again among the most sustainable companies in the world validates our corporate responsibility efforts. We expect success in sustainability assessments to become an increasingly important competitive factor for companies going forward, also affecting customers’ purchase decisions,” says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.

Kesko also received recognition for its sustainability efforts in 2020 when it made the best
‘A’ list in CDP’s international climate change questionnaire, and was once again included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index the DJSI World.

Assessment focused on climate action and emission reductions

The top 1% of the world’s most sustainable companies were included on the Global 100 list based on a sustainability assessment carried out on 8,080 companies. The companies were assessed on 24 indicators related to environmental and social responsibility and good corporate governance.

In addition to Kesko, Finnish companies on the Global 100 list include Metso Outotec, Neste, Nordea and UPM-Kymmene.

One key aspect assessed were each company’s actions to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions.

“Climate action and related investments and sustainable selections were especially significant in the assessment of grocery trade companies. The assessment focused, for example, on how much the companies are investing in renewable energy and how large a percentage of store selections are plant-based products,” explains Matti Kalervo, Kesko’s Vice President of Corporate Responsibility. 

K Group updated its emissions objectives in spring 2020, targeting carbon neutrality by 2025, with net zero own emissions by 2030. Primary means to achieve this include increased use of electricity and heat produced with renewable energy and switching to biofuels in transports in Finland.

One of our main climate actions in 2020 was to install our new energy recycling system in 18 K Group grocery stores. The innovative system, which has received international recognition, can reduce a property’s heat consumption by as much as 95%, making a store almost carbon neutral in terms of energy.

K Group is also encouraging its customers to make climate-friendly choices. In 2020, we introduced new grocery products made from food waste as well as more vegetarian convenience foods and plant protein products. Our data-based K-Ostokset service enables customers to track their purchases of Finnish products, their carbon footprint, and now also the nutritional values of their grocery purchases, including their consumption of salt, sugar, red meat, fish and vegetables.

Further information:
Matti Kalervo, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, tel. +358 50 306 4081, matti.kalervo@kesko.fi
K Group media desk (Mon-Fri 9-16), tel. +358 105 350 200, viestinta@kesko.fi

The 2021 Global 100 list: https://www.corporateknights.com/reports/global-100/

Kesko and K-retailers together form K Group, whose sales total €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 43,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade, and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko's net sales total €11 billion and it employs approximately 25,000 people. Kesko has more than 1,800 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland. Kesko’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main premises are in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi