Distribution Industry "Sustainable Management and Strengthening ESG Are the Answers"

Sustainable Management Report Serial Publication
Eco-friendly, Carbon Reduction, Social Contribution
Initiating Mid- to Long-term Value Creation

The distribution industry is continuously publishing sustainability management reports containing plans to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). The common goal is to focus on creating medium- to long-term value rather than short-term achievements, ensuring that ESG activities are linked to the core competitiveness of companies and sustained over time.

According to the distribution industry on the 11th, Lotte Shopping recently published the ‘2021 Sustainability Management Report,’ which includes the integrated ESG campaign brand ‘RE:EARTH’ and five detailed tasks. It also covers the current status and expansion plans of ESG initiatives such as developing eco-friendly products and dedicated spaces, adopting eco-friendly energy, resource circulation, inclusion of diverse social groups, and win-win cooperation with partner companies. Last year, Lotte Shopping’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 12.5% compared to 2018. Lotte Shopping declared carbon neutrality by 2040 and plans to establish annual carbon reduction targets and detailed implementation plans this year.

GS Retail introduced its ESG mid- to long-term vision called ‘Green Life Together’ and seven strategic tasks including green products, green stores, green environmental management, together with employees, partners, customers, and social contribution through its first sustainability management report after integrating with GS Home Shopping. GS Retail expanded GS25 stores equipped with its self-developed Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) to 11,241 last year. Self-reliance support stores such as Naeil Store (supporting vulnerable groups’ self-sufficiency), Dream Store (supporting youth independence), and Senior Store (supporting elderly employment) also reached about 50 locations.

BGF Group, which has published sustainability management reports reflecting ESG management achievements and visions since 2018, released reports this year from its holding company BGF and BGF Retail, which operates CU. Last year, BGF Retail’s public functions based on its network capabilities shone during the social crisis caused by COVID-19. Through the ‘iCU’ program for preventing missing children and dementia patients and child abuse, it created a channel to care for marginalized neighbors. The emergency disaster relief activity ‘BGF Bridge’ also established itself as a case of protecting community safety by utilizing BGF Group’s nationwide largest network.

CJ Freshway included content and major achievements from the past three years in its first ESG report. Last year, it took the lead in reducing carbon emissions by introducing electric cargo vehicles for the first time in the food ingredient distribution industry and focused on resource circulation activities such as converting ice packs used in product distribution to reusable ones. Going forward, CJ Freshway plans to carry out various activities aligned with three strategic directions: eco-friendly distribution environment, healthy food culture, and a society growing together.

Dongwon Group published reports from three listed affiliates: Dongwon Industries, Dongwon F&B, and Dongwon Systems. Dongwon F&B selected three core ESG goals: ‘achieving 100 billion KRW in eco-friendly product sales,’ ‘reducing annual plastic usage by 15%,’ and ‘establishing industrial safety and health management,’ and continuously manages the implementation details and achievements.

Binggrae operates under the vision of ‘sustainable management naturally practiced daily by all employees,’ based on goals of leading earth environment preservation for future generations, creating social impact through sharing and giving, and realizing transparent governance at a global level. Nongshim selected seven major material issues such as expanding product competitiveness and sustainable supply chain management to achieve its corporate mission of ‘contributing to a better life with better products and services.’

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.