SPAR utilises digital solutions to reduce paper use

With its initiatives to reduce the volume of paper used in logistics and the stores, SPAR Hungary is saving more than 37 additional tonnes of paper per year. The company has also launched an internal communication campaign among its employees to raise awareness about cutting paper use.

“SPAR uses a large amount of paper every year in its food production plants, stores, the operation of logistics and the online shop. Reducing the amount of paper used is an important part of our company’s sustainability goals. In the recent years, we have implemented several successful programmes in this area: cleaning logs have been phased out in the shops and refrigerator control sheets are now available as digital data. As a result, 14 tonnes less paper was used in 2023. In the SPAR online shop, we use digital delivery notes, saving around 3 tonnes of paper each year. We have recently also launched new programmes for logistics and stores, which have reduced paper demand by more than 37 tonnes,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

In logistics, SPAR achieved a reduction of around 34.4 tonnes by streamlining the administration of goods receipt and reducing the number of outbound delivery notes. In the retail store network, the company has introduced electronic worksheets and digital service logs for SPAR supermarkets and INTERSPAR hypermarkets. From the last quarter of the previous year, the company converted a number of printed control documents to digital format. Also since last year, the annual HACCP-ISO training material is now only available to the staff in online format. In total, this has reduced the required volume of paper by around 3 tonnes.

SPAR also launched an internal communication campaign within the company. It used quizzes and useful tips to raise awareness of the importance of reducing paper waste, so that as little paper as possible ends up in the recycling bins and lost in desk drawers.