Within the Used Cooking Oil Collection and Recycling Program at Auchan stores, 1 million liters of oil have been collected so far, thus avoiding its improper disposal and environmental pollution.

Launched in 2019 by Auchan, the first retailer in Romania to introduce such a collection project for oil, the initiative has mobilized over 770,000 Romanians to date, who have understood the harmful effects that used cooking oil has on soil and water, as well as in generating additional costs for the maintenance and cleaning of wastewater treatment plants.

Moreover, this project has led to the reduction of 2,300 tons of CO2, which have thus not been released into the atmosphere, as the collected oil has been transformed into one million liters of biofuel.

According to Auchan Romania, the quantities of oil collected for recycling have steadily increased over the past two years. Last year, the collected quantity reached 320,000 liters, with over 40% more than the previous year, a fact also due to the constant efforts to promote the project, through which the retailer has informed customers about its importance for the environment.

"We have witnessed an organic growth in the quantity of oil brought by consumers for collection, reaching today 1 million liters collected across the entire network, a quantity that will no longer end up uncontrolled in nature, polluting the soil and water. We are grateful to all customers who have been involved and have shown responsibility, understanding that a simple gesture becomes vital when it comes to protecting the planet and its resources, and together we can enjoy a cleaner environment. We also thank our partners, Fairy, Aqua Carpatica, Respiră Verde, as well as the teams involved, with whom we will continue to fight for a greener future, and we invite Romanians to continue bringing used oil to our stores for recycling," said Corina Dospinoiu, Sustainability Director at Auchan Retail Romania.

Designed as a responsible initiative, the Used Cooking Oil Collection and Recycling Program is available indefinitely in 40 Auchan hypermarkets and supermarkets, the most recent collection point being launched at the Auchan Moșnița hypermarket in Timiș County.

Due to the results achieved through this program, in 2023, Auchan was among the top 5 national champions for water protection designated by the Government of Romania, through the Department of Sustainable Development. The award was presented at the Sustainable Development Gala, which aimed to recognize successful projects that highlight water or sustainability objectives in the water sector.

The inhabitants of Satu Mare, the residents of Drumul Taberei in Bucharest, and the people of Galați are among the top consumers who have collected the largest quantities of used cooking oil.

The effects of improper disposal of used cooking oil waste have been understood by the Auchan customer community, who have been willing, in large numbers, to change their consumption behavior to a more responsible and ecological one. Thus, in the ranking of stores that have collected the largest quantity of used oil since the start of the project, the Auchan hypermarket in Satu Mare ranks first, followed by Auchan Drumul Taberei in the capital, and Auchan Galați.

Those who bring used oil to Auchan stores are rewarded, depending on the quantity delivered, with products from Fairy and AQUA Carpatica. For oil recycling, Auchan collaborates with Respiră Verde, a national leader in collecting, valorizing, and final disposal of used edible oils and fats, all Auchan partners involved in the program sharing the same vision and sustainability strategy, as well as the desire to fight for environmental protection.

How can consumers collect used cooking oil?

Household consumers are invited to bring used cooking oil to the Customer Service desks in Auchan stores across the country. The used oil is collected, after cooling, in a transparent plastic container. For the recycling process to run optimally, it is important that the oil is strained and not mixed with other waste.

The plastic containers will also be collected for recycling. The collected oil is handed over to the Respiră Verde company, to be processed through a series of heating, settling, and filtering techniques. Subsequently, the oil is transformed into biofuels, with 1 liter of used oil being equivalent to 1 liter of biofuel (biodiesel).

By comparison, burning one liter of diesel produces 2.68 kg of CO2, while 1 liter of biodiesel produces only 0.38 kg of CO2, resulting in a difference of 2.3 kg CO2 / liter. Although diesel weighs less than one kg per liter, emissions weigh more because oxygen is added during combustion.

By saving used cooking oil, the pollution of millions of liters of water is avoided, which means a cleaner and healthier environment for millions of citizens in Romania. Moreover, avoiding improper disposal of oil directly brings them savings in terms of expenses for maintaining sewer systems.

Auchan supports and promotes sustainability and care for the environment, carrying out constantly awareness-raising actions for responsible consumption, realizing over time a series of environmental projects, recycling, plastic elimination, and circular economy, along the entire value chain, through which it aims to contribute to a better and more sustainable future.

About Auchan

Auchan Romania has a portfolio of over 430 stores, including 33 hypermarkets, 7 supermarkets, and almost 400 MyAuchan ultra-proximity stores, the majority of which are located in Petrom stations, as well as the online store auchan.ro.

With a turnover including taxes in 2022 of over 1.2 billion Euros, Auchan offers residents in the cities where its stores are present modern, quality commerce, with the widest range of products and a responsible discount concept, with low prices every day. Auchan Romania reaffirmed this year the title of "Top Employer", obtaining for the second consecutive year the Top Employer certification.

Auchan Romania carries out a series of important actions to promote social responsibility activities and youth integration, as well as programs for environmental protection, aiming at waste management, resource conservation, etc.

Among the projects the company has implemented are the planting of 100,000 trees through the Mobilizatron project, the making of the film "Unspoiled Romania", the first documentary about Romania's nature, as well as the setting up of two medical support units for patients with non-critical forms of Covid-19.

Currently, Auchan has several active projects: Zero Waste (through which over 18 million products have been saved), the National Program for Used Oil Collection (through which one million liters of oil have been collected and recycled), the Personal Sustainability Program, and many other actions aimed at helping the environment and society.

Furthermore, facing the major climate challenge, the company will integrate clear objectives into each segment of the business strategy, aimed at contributing to a more sustainable future, preserving the planet. The climate strategy, part of the #notoosoon umbrella, will represent the cornerstone of the company project, with the retailer focusing on all 3 purposes: refrigeration equipment, energy, transport, and products. (Photo: Auchan)