The second part of ESG practice series activities which were hold by Institute of Social Innovation and the course “Seminar in Social Innovation, Entrepreneur Ship, and Sustainable Governance” took us out of the classroom and went onto the actual battlefield. This visit engaged us to regain our curiosity, explore five senses and integrate learning. Upon arriving at the Carrefour Dinshan store, Su Xiao Zhen, Carrefour corporate Sustainability director shared with us about the concept, implementation process and behind Carrefour as a leading retail company in promoting “Food Transformation” initiative in recent years.

In contrast to external marketing, Su Xiao Zhen attracted the markets’ attention to the ESG policies that Carrefour implemented. She said gently and firmly “Believe first, then see.” To implement the mission of sustainability was an internal cultural reform rather than a marketing methods. The task of sustainability department was to engage every individual from the company in sustainable practices. Only by letting everyone agree and participate, the goal of truly implement sustainability can be achieved. Without changing the original business model, there will be no transformation. 

Retail industry was a very localized industry (involved direct communication and interacting with local community). She believed that only by making locals live well is essential for selling well. However, “top market share” should be the result instead of the goal, just as mentioned in class, sharing goodwill and mutual benefits are the ways to be sustainable. Most of the products in Carrefour are food items, while we advocated animal welfare, the transparency of source information enables the consumers to make the right choices.

After the profound concepts and practical experiences, we visited the Carrefour sustainable concept store. In the small store, there is a story behind every product, including the 100% slave-free Tony’s Chocolonely, the transparent fresh milk coming from the cows which were allowed to lie on waterbed mattresses to keep them healthy or environmentally friendly three-day sprouts which are as nutritious as five broccolis. We tasted, smelled and learned about the origins of these food products.

After a one-day visit to the Carrefour sustainable concept store, we learned that the consumers have abilities to influence the entire system or company and became a sustainable organizer as well as influencer. Everyone can exert their own power, then we can believe that sustainability and ESG will no longer be just a slogan.

(compiled by Tsai Xiao Ping from the Department of Business Management)