Yesterday it was announced that Albert Heijn Netherlands has become B Corp certified. And since companies with $5 billion or more in revenue must meet extra requirements, all information about the B Corp assessment of Albert Heijn Netherlands is publicly available!

How did the B Corp process unfold? And what does it mean for Albert Heijn Netherlands’ ambitions and plans? Tessa van Soest, Director of B Lab Benelux, sits down with Anita Scholte op Reimer, Director of Sustainability & Quality at Albert Heijn Netherlands, for an engaging conversation on impact and ambitious goals.

Tessa van Soest (TvS):
“Congratulations, Anita, and welcome to the global network of over 9,000 companies using the power of business to build a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Albert Heijn Nederland started the B Corp journey in September 2021. What does this milestone mean for you?”

Anita Scholte op Reimer (ASoR):
“We are fully committed to working every day on our mission: ‘Making better food accessible together. For everyone.’ Throughout the company, you can feel the drive to create impact from our mission. With all our colleagues, suppliers, partners, and customers, we take big and small steps daily to contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and social society. We do this step by step, plate by plate, but with determination. Trust me, as a large organization with about 125,000 employees, it’s quite a complex task to consistently work on changes that benefit society and the planet. That’s why it’s an extra motivation that our efforts in this area have been independently recognized and certified by B Lab.” 

TvS:
“What steps did you take to meet all the criteria for B Corp certification?”

ASoR:
“As a large, complex organization, it was quite a task to collect and provide all the required data and practical examples needed for the B Impact Assessment across the five impact pillars: environment, governance, customers, community, and employees. But it’s good that we now have this data clearly organized, also for other purposes. Additionally, the B Corp Certification process makes you very aware of the importance of collaboration with supply chain partners and societal organizations. Together, you can truly make a difference. For example, we’ve developed an approach with the World Wildlife Fund to cut the ecological footprint of the food system by 50% by 2030. And with our international fruit and vegetable suppliers, we’ve launched the Positive Produce for People and Planet Program. Within this framework, we adhere to stricter standards for sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and social development than have traditionally been applied.”

TvS:
B Corp is about continuous improvement, which is why all B Corps must recertify every three years. Additionally, companies with $5 billion or more in revenue must meet extra requirements (along with adopting stakeholder governance, overall verified score over 80 on the B Impact Assessment, passing the Disclosure Review process for controversial issues and publicly sharing all these materials online). 

These additional requirements recognise that the overall scale and influence of these companies also entail higher obligations to society, and are designed to ensure that B Corp Certified multinationals have strong records of performance on important aspects of their social and environmental performance. 

Great to see that Albert Heijn, in order to complete their B Corp Certification, had to create a plan to tackle their most material topics. Namely: setting specific, aspirational and performance goals and demonstrated progress towards these goals. Let’s mention a few (all to be read here):

• Goal 1: CO2 Scope 3
  • 45% CO2 Scope 3 reduction in 2030 (2018 baseline).
  • Net zero Scope 3 emissions in 2050.
• Goal 2: Human Rights in the supply chain
  • Cacao: by 2028, Albert Heijn’s entire assortment of own brand products containing cocoa will be sourced via the Tony’s Open Chain, and the cocoa will be produced following the 5 Sourcing Principles
  • Fruit & Vegetables: By 2030, all international Albert Heijn suppliers of fresh fruit and vegetables will be implementing a comprehensive approach to farming and doing business that fosters ecological balance, enhances worker and community livelihoods and supports a sustainable food system.
• Goal 3: Cut the ecological footprint of the food system in the Netherlands by 50% in 2023 by (amongst others):
  • Food Waste> 50% reduction of food loss and waste in own operations and at own brand Dutch Fruit & Vegetables suppliers.
  • Diets > 60:40 plant/animal protein sales split.
  • Climate> Achieved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction across all scopes in line with 1.5-degree Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

ASoR:
“The beauty of the B Corp methodology is that the certification gives you clear insight into where you stand and where further improvement is needed. In three years, we will go through the recertification process. This keeps you agile.”

TvS:
“What will your customers notice about the B Corp Certification?”

ASoR:
“Every day, we fill the plates of 7 million customers. We are prominently present in Dutch markets, which of course brings a great responsibility. It also means we can create mass impact, for instance, by introducing large groups of customers to the products of B Corp certified suppliers. We’ve already made significant strides in making sustainable alternatives more appealing. For example, with our private label products, we continuously advance both sustainability and health. We communicate this clearly with our customers, using tools like the Nutri-Score. And wherever possible, we strategically position a B Corp certified alternative next to the A-brand and private label product on the shelf. You can see that making more sustainable and healthier choices is increasingly resonating with consumers.”