X5 Retail Group, a leading Russian food retailer listed on the Moscow and London stock exchanges, is launching an international joint program with Plug and Play to scout for innovative approaches to sustainable development.
The program will focus on reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions as well as sustainable packaging. It will start in the summer of 2022 with an analysis of the retailer’s needs, on the one side, and the accelerator’s startup portfolio, as it may be relevant, on the other.
The program will also allow Russian and foreign startups to pitch their solutions to the Russian retailer.
“The potential impact X5 can have on topics like food waste, climate, and packaging is enormous and they are showing leadership by taking action through innovation,” stated Nicolas Chow, Director of Plug and Play Sustainability EMEA.
“As a partner of Plug and Play Sustainability, X5 will combine their scale and knowledge with the most promising sustainability startups to build a more sustainable future,” he added.
X5’s program to stimulate innovation among group employees will be aligned. Initially focusing on store operations, logistics, back office processes, HR, IT and marketing and other areas, the ‘X5 Idea Challenge’ now invites employees to suggest solutions to support the group’s sustainable development strategy.
Adopted in December 2019, this strategy focuses on four of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) in which the company can make the biggest difference:
- Healthy lifestyle, by developing the availability of quality and wholesome foods;
- Decent working conditions and equal opportunities for employees;
- Responsible consumption and use of resources;
- Support of local communities through the development of charity.
Innovators willing to share suggestions and ideas for sustainable development may X5 at esg[at]x5.ru
