Sustainable development

We recognise the impact that our rapidly growing chain has on the social and natural environment. This is a huge responsibility that we take very seriously. With the well-being of present and future generations in mind, we want to be an agent of positive change: to protect our planet and contribute to improving the quality of life of our employees, customers and local communities.

Areas of activity:

Environment

We are constantly looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact in all areas of our business — from purchasing to logistics, store organisation, office space and marketing activities.

Better Cotton

Pepco is a proud member of Better Cotton. BC is one of the biggest organizations that help cotton growers convert to more environmentally friendly sustainable farming methods. Better Cotton is sourced via a chain of custody model called mass balance. This means that BC is not physically traceable to products, however, Better Cotton Farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton in equivalent volumes to those we ‘source.’ Until 2025 at Pepco we will be sourcing at least 25% of our cotton through Better Cotton.

Learn more here

LED lighting in stores

All newly opened PEPCO stores have energy-saving LED lighting. We also run a programme of replacing old lighting for the longest established stores, so that the vast majority of our stores are already exclusively using LED solutions.

Packaging

In 2020, we began implementing a new packaging strategy that aims to reduce the overall amount of packaging in the supply chain and increase the proportion of recyclable and/or recycled packaging — both for bulk and unit packaging.

Environmentally friendly products

We are consistently expanding the range and availability of products that are more environmentally friendly. You will find organic cotton clothing in our range, including GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified clothing. It is confirmation that every stage of garment production – from raw material to finished product – was carried out according to controlled social and environmental criteria. PEPCO's range also includes products made from certified wood and paper, OEKOTEX certified products and recycled products.

Find out more about certificates and product safety in the tab Our quality

We use recycled paper

96% of our promotional leaflets are printed on recycled paper.

Responsible transport

At PEPCO, we use what is known as intermodal transport, the main idea of which is to make greater use of rail links and waterways. It is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain.

We also take care to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of our distribution fleet, through effective logistical planning.

Waste management

We segregate waste across the chain. In addition, our distribution centres have developed systems for collecting industrial waste, which is sent directly for recycling.

Recycled bags

All shopping bags sold in our PEPCO stores are EcoLoop bags, which are made from recycled plastic waste and contain at least 85% recycled material. The bags are certified as "Blue Angel" eco-friendly bags.

This means we are contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 40% compared to bags made using fossil fuels.

Collection of used batteries

We collect used batteries in all stores. There are bins at the cash registers where customers can leave them.

Ethical supply chain

People are the key to PEPCO’s success – our employees, but also our suppliers and other business partners with their entire teams, who join with us in supporting the continuous development of our company. That is why we constantly strive to create the best possible working environment. As a responsible employer, we set ourselves high ethical standards and expect the same from our partners.

Supplier code of conduct

Our supply chain code of ethics defines the company's requirements for suppliers in terms of labour standards and respect for human rights. It is based on the principle of Zero Tolerance for issues that are extremely important to us and our customers, such as unsafe working conditions, forced labour, corruption, fair wages and child labour.

Read the document

Supplier audits

An audit firm belonging to the PEPCO Capital Group carefully ensures that our suppliers comply with our ethical principles. The company is in charge of a multi-stage audit system with suppliers, so we can be sure that working conditions in their factories are safe and that their employees are treated in accordance with the applicable laws and receive a fair wage. During audits, suppliers are also assessed for compliance with environmental regulations.

Employees

Pepco has over 20,000 employees in Europe. Our company is growing dynamically thanks to its employees, and our employees are improving along with it. We always look at professional development from two perspectives: that of the company’s strategy and culture, and that of individual employee development needs.

The basis of our daily work is the unique organisational culture called Pepcoolture, which is founded on mission, vision and values.

Our PEPCOOLTURE

It's how we deliver on our vision and mission, and the awareness that everything we do has value. Our set of five values – development, love for the customer, team, respect and simplicity – allows us to unite employees from different departments, positions and cultures. Through our values, we create a strong and well-integrated team that learns from each other's experiences and supports each other in achieving their goals.

Employee development

Pepco offers a diverse package of training and professional development for both store and head office employees. Each employee undergoes an annual process to determine their individual development path and is provided with personalised training or e-learning resources. Our internal Performance & Development process is designed to support managers and employees in their efforts to achieve the best possible results and improve the competencies needed to perform effectively.

Employee benefits

Professional development is not everything. This is why our employees have access to a range of non-financial benefits that make their lives easier and help them look after their own health and well-being. These include:

MyBenefit Cafeteria

An online platform where employees choose benefits for themselves from thousands of ready-made options.

Employee discount on shopping at Pepco

Employee events

Regular team-building and motivational meetings

SMART lunch

Development programmes and English language learning

Social fund

Group insurance

Employee sports initiatives

Charity

For PEPCO, children are the priority in our social initiatives: organising their leisure time, development, education and equalising their life chances. We work with non-profit organisations, create our own outreach programmes, and get involved in volunteering. In each of the countries in which we operate, we undertake a variety of initiatives aimed at children.

We work with, among others:

The Society of Friends of Children (Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci, TPD)

TPD is the oldest Polish public benefit organisation, which focuses on helping children from communities at risk of social exclusion. It has educational facilities and centres all over Poland. PEPCO and TPD have been working together for several years now, making it possible for children at day-care and youth centres all over the country to participate in activities developing their interests all year round, and to go to summer camps during the holidays. In PEPCO's regular range you can find a special product – charity teddy bears, the profits from which go to TPD projects.

Go to the Society of Friends of Children website

Happy Kids

We are an organisation that aims to create and run family children's homes, where neglected and abused children from marginalised communities and children deprived of their biological parents' care can find shelter and love for many years.

Go to the Happy Kids website

SOS Children's Villages (SOS Wioski Dziecięce)

The Villages are Reggio Emilia-inspired places for children aged 1-3, run by teams of qualified teachers based on an innovative pedagogy. How do they differ from traditional nurseries? The food, adaptations, interiors — find out more in the article.

Go to the SOS Children's Villages website

Life.On Project

Life.On is a joint project of PEPCO and the Atalaya Foundation, which supports young people leaving foster care in becoming independent and entering adulthood. As part of Life.On, thanks to the financial and in-kind support of PEPCO, those under the Foundation's care will receive assistance in such areas as: renovation and furnishing of supported and social housing; vocational, educational and tutoring courses; purchase of equipment and software necessary for the development of professional skills; development workshops, including team-building trips and career planning.

Go to the Atalaya Foundation website

The Empowering Children Foundation (Fundacja Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę)

The helpline 116 111 is run by the Empowering Children Foundation 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It responds to the needs of Polish children who, generally due to their age and/or underestimation of their problems by adults, are at risk of loneliness and the feeling that they are alone with their difficulties, that there is no one who could help them. The financial support donated by PEPCO will fund, between July and September: 36 hours of training for the new group of advisors; all overnight shifts – during which the longest calls are conducted and life-saving interventions often occur; some daytime shifts during the hours when children call most frequently.

Go to the Foundation's website

Own projects

PEPCOlandia

PEPCOlandia is a programme to help children, driven by the commitment and kindness of our employees. Thanks to them, local NGOs receive grants to implement projects dedicated to children.

Noble Gift

PEPCO employees help with the "Full Pack". This year, several hundred employees from stores all over the country, the head office and the warehouse in Rawa Mazowiecka have signed up for the campaign, which is organised to support the nationwide "Noble Gift" initiative.

Cyfrolatki

Cyfrolatki (meaning "Digiteens") is a special educational programme about online safety, implemented in partnership with the Society of Friends of Children. Thanks to Cyfrolatki, children learn what online hate speech is, how to deal with it and how to function safely in cyberspace.

To date, more than 2,500 children have participated in workshops, school lessons and happenings prepared by the children from TPD themselves.

PEPCO customers also help

Charity teddy bears

In the PEPCO toy range you can find a unique pair of charity teddy bears. 100% of the profits from their sale go to the Society of Friends of Children, which supports the development and education of those in its care. By buying a teddy bear, our customers are doing something good for children! In designing the clothes for this charming couple, we are helped by the children from TPD, whose drawings are the inspiration for Mrs. Bear's dresses and Mr. Bear's outfits.

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