Sustainability goals and follow-up

The Axfood Group is working to increase the proportion of sustainability-labeled products, and our goal is for at least 30 percent of everything we sell to have some form of sustainability labeling by 2025. Sustainability labels make it easier for consumers to make choices that help reduce the ecological footprint of food and improve social conditions in production. By having a high proportion of sustainability-labeled products, we contribute to a more sustainable production and consumption of food. 

To monitor our progress towards our goal, we annually measure the proportion of sustainability-labeled products in relation to the turnover of our store chains. This way, we can see how large a proportion of the products have a sustainability label.

Organic foods help reduce the use of chemicals and artificial fertilizers. This prioritizes animal welfare and benefits biodiversity. Therefore, for example, Hemköp’s stores exclusively sell organic bananas.

Axfood also wants to promote better conditions for the people working in production, and through labels such as Fairtrade, good social conditions are ensured.

Product and sustainability labels of private label products

Axfood works with product and sustainability labels for our own private label products to offer the best options within different categories and price ranges.

In most product categories, there are several sustainability-labeled products to choose from, especially when it comes to products from our own brands. The entire range of Garant’s tea is certified with Rainforest Alliance, and the Såklart cleaning series is Swan-labeled.

Here you can read about how we decide if one of our private label products should have a sustainability label:

Procurement process for Axfood’s private label products

Axfood ensures high quality across the entire range of products

Sustainability labels make it easier for consumers to make sustainable and healthy choices.

By also offering a varied assortment where the origin and content of products are clear, consumers can choose goods produced in a way that considers both environmental and social aspects.

For Axfood, it is important that consumers can trust that the assortment is developed as sustainably as possible. We base our quality work on Axfood’s quality and sustainability strategy.

Here, EU legislation is compiled together with a number of specific requirements on food safety, animal welfare, sustainability, product safety, environment, and health that all suppliers must meet.

Proposal for abolished or reduced VAT on food

To make it easier for consumers to purchase sustainability-labeled products, which generally have a slightly higher price, Axfood proposes abolishing or reducing VAT on sustainability-labeled food products. 

Abolishing or reducing VAT would also motivate companies to meet the requirements for sustainability labels, thereby increasing the competitiveness of these products.