Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Auchan Retail Romania: “Partnerships play a key role in the circular economy”

“Before the start of the Deposit-Return System (DRS), we implemented the first RVMs in Pitesti several years ago, in partnership with TOMRA. This helped us to be prepared for DRS, because we were already offering customers that bonus or other benefits in exchange for collecting packaging. In addition, it was a very important educational initiative. We have noticed that this incentive system works very well in Romania,” Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Sustainability Director, Auchan Retail Romania said at Circular Economy Conference organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest and Sustainability Today.

Key statements:

• We have projects implemented many years ago that have a very high impact. For example, the collection of used oil. This project was started in response to a need that all consumers have: what do we do with the oil after use? We cannot throw it away, because we pollute the soil or water. The used oil collection project was started in October 2019. The oil that we collect is transformed into a new resource, namely biodiesel.
• Another important project is “A new life”, where we focused on the reuse principle. The foundation of this project is the reuse of textiles. In many stores we have a corner where we sell pre-used products.
• Last year, through a partnership with Bucharest Fashion Week, we took this project further. Five Romanian designers took pre-used pieces from our project and created an upcycling concept. The result was phenomenal. We collaborated with extremely creative designers. The pieces were in an exhibition at Galateca, but this year they were also exhibited in our stores (Brasov Coresi, Cluj Iulius and Auchan Titan), so that we could present this concept of reusing and upcycling textiles to consumers.
• The objective of the campaign was to spread the message of having this perspective in mind, of educating consumers and of contributing together with consumers to the circular economy.
• DRS is a project that has impacted the entire country and obviously our company and the entire beverage industry. It is proof that partnerships will always work. It is a strong partnership between private companies, but also between companies and the Romanian state. Obviously, there were challenges in the years of preparation of the system and challenges still exist.
• The circular economy can be extremely profitable. RetuRO had extraordinary results last year and we congratulate them. Partnerships play a key role in the circular economy.