3 March 2009 - Launch of REAP

We are pleased to inform you that together with the Commission, we have launched the Retailers' Environmental Action Programme (REAP) on 3 March 2009 in the presence of both Commissioners Dimas and Kuneva and EuroCommerce President Senator Quinn and Delhaize Group CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers.

This major event took place in the Committee of Regions (Rue Belliard 99, B-1040 Brussels, room 53) from 11.00 to 13.00.

 

This event was a unique opportunity to highlight the long-standing commitment of the commerce sector towards more sustainability.

 

Programme

 

The final programme is accessible here.

 

Background

 

REAP is EuroCommerce/ERRT counter proposal to the Commission's request for an environmental agreement. It consists of 2 elements, a Forum and a matrix of environmental action points.

 

Members of the Forum are retailers and the European Commission, and participation is opened to all stakeholders. Its objective is to serve as a platform to share best practices and identify barriers and opportunities linked to sustainable consumption and production.

 

The matrix of environmental action points (MAP) is a matrix in which individual companies (or federations) identify environmental actions that they are willing to carry out. These actions revolve around three pillars:

 

- what we sell – actions aimed at selling lower impact, better performing products and services

- how we sell – actions aimed at limiting the environmental impacts from retailers' own distribution activities

- how we communicate – actions aimed at informing and influencing the consumer.

 

Photo gallery

 

Please click here.

 

Speeches

 

Welcoming remarks and moderation

• Mr. Timo Makela, Director, DG ENV

 

Key note address

• Mr. Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for Environment

Retailers' specific commitments towards sustainability

• Senator Feargal Quinn, President Eurocommerce

• Mr. Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and CEO, Delhaize Group

Consumers organisation's response

• Ms. Monique Goyens, Director General, BEUC

Producers organisation's contribution

• Ms. Susanne Zänker, Director General, AISE

The challenge ahead

• Ms. Meglena Kuneva, Commissioner for Consumer Affairs

 

 

REAP page on EuroCommerce website

 

Please click here.

 

Xavier R. Durieu,

Secretary General