Go Green starts with us
We optimize sustainability throughout our organization. This starts at our Package Park, our 88,000m2 warehouse that was energy positive in 2023 thanks to its solar roof. Here, we have researched and tested solutions to eliminate plastic consumption in our pallet storage and internal transportation. By implementing a solution to stop using plastic seal foil for our pallets, we expect to reduce our plastic consumption by over 12,500 kilograms annually. Additionally, we have invested heavily in machines that tailor cardboard packaging exactly to size. With the latest additions from 2023, we can now save an additional 100,000 kilograms of cardboard annually, on top of the reduction of 250,000 kilograms we already realized compared to 2022. And because we pack orders exactly to size, or ship without packaging if possible, we can also transport more products in our bikes and vans.
We actively work to minimize CO₂ emissions from our delivery. In and around 22 cities in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, we deliver up to 90% of eligible packages by bike. This way, we prevented 278,000 kilograms of CO₂ emissions in 2023 alone already. We intend to expand our bike delivery in 2024, when we will deliver in 26 cities. At the same time, we actively research and implement measures to reduce emissions from our motorized vehicles. Our focus lies on electrifying our fleet, which is why we added new electric vans in 2023. The grid capacity limitations in the Netherlands make it challenging, but we almost managed to secure sufficient capacity for electric delivery at all our depots. A full conversion to an electric delivery fleet also requires a cohesive approach in legislation regarding the operation of electric vehicles and emission zones.
Coolblue Energy
Coolblue Energy is our fully licensed energy company. Or, actually, our fully licensed energy-saving company, because it is our mission to help customers save energy. To do so, we provide them with insights into their consumption. We offer them a discount on energy-efficient products, such as washing machines, smart plugs, and smart lights. And we enable our customers to generate their own electricity with solar panels and harness it through charging stations. Of course, they get a discount on these products too.
In 2023, we launched dynamic energy contracts to help customers not only reduce their energy consumption, but also manage it effectively. When there is an abundance of renewable energy available, the energy price becomes lower or even negative. By stimulating consumption when this happens, we help customers lower their energy bill and simultaneously lower the amount of non-renewable energy required. This occurred on 62 days throughout 2023. We are collaborating with manufacturers to create products that integrate with these contracts and the Coolblue App, thus making it even easier for customers to benefit from this.
Completing the product journey
Every product has a life cycle, which means that at the end of the life cycle, it needs to be taken care of. Fundamentally, it is part of the customer journey. So when we deliver a new household appliance, we take the old one back with us if the customer wants us to. In 2023, we collected 20,000 tonnes of appliances this way. We go to great lengths to ensure that these appliances are put to the best use possible. For 17,000 appliances, this meant that we were able to refurbish them in-house, thus giving them a second life. The remainder was either refurbished externally or optimally recycled.
We do not stop at white goods, however. In 2023, we made it possible to refurbish smartphones in-house. We offer 2 years of warranty on these refurbished phones, ensuring the longest
lifespan we can give. But because of our extensive infrastructure, we are well suited to play an even larger role in the circular economy of electronics. That is why we intend to increase our efforts in the coming years by obtaining disregarded electronics and facilitating optimal recycling by manufacturers.
Materiality assessment
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive has entered into force in 2023, which means Coolblue is obligated to report on CSRD-required sustainability information as of 2025. We are in the process of conducting a double materiality assessment and making the necessary preparations to ensure our compliance with the directive. Our 2022 materiality assessment remains relevant and forms a basis for these 3 pillars and helps us in conducting a double materiality assessment.
