Auchan România continues to expand one of the largest circular economy programs in Romanian retail, first launched locally in 2019. Through its household used cooking oil collection initiative, the company has collected and handed over more than 1.7 million liters for recycling, with nearly a quarter of this amount contributed by customers in the past year alone.

To encourage cooking oil recycling and promote more responsible consumer behavior, Auchan România, together with its partners, rewards customers who return used cooking oil at Auchan and ATAC hypermarkets and supermarkets, depending on the quantity collected.

The initiative is supported through partnerships with Henkel and Valvis Holding. Customers who return at least three liters of used oil receive either a 450 ml bottle of Pur dishwashing detergent or a 2-liter bottle of still water from AQUA Carpatica. The collected oil is then recycled and transformed into biofuel.

After cooling, used cooking oil should be poured into a transparent plastic container of 1, 2, or 3 liters (or multiples of one liter). To ensure optimal recycling, the oil must be strained and not mixed with other waste. Containers can be handed in at Customer Service points in Auchan and ATAC stores. Depending on the quantity delivered, starting from three liters, customers receive a free product while stocks last.

In 2025 alone, Auchan România collected over 400,000 liters of used cooking oil, helping prevent the contamination of more than 400 billion liters of water.

“Although the environmental impact of used cooking oil is significant, nationwide collection remains limited. Our experience shows that change is possible when accessible infrastructure, strong partnerships, and customer incentives are in place. We thank our partners for joining this collective effort and hope such initiatives will multiply through collaboration between Auchan, its partners, and consumers, so that oil recycling becomes common practice on a large scale,” said Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Sustainability Director at Auchan România.

Valentina Vesler, Communication and PR Director at AQUA Carpatica, added: “Every liter of oil collected means less pollution and more care for nature. We are pleased to support Auchan in a project that proves the common good starts with small, conscious actions. For AQUA Carpatica, protecting water purity and the environment is not just a promise — it is a daily responsibility.”

Sînziana Plămădeală, Brand Manager for Pur at Henkel România, noted: “We have seen growing consumer interest in responsible solutions and initiatives that contribute directly to environmental protection. By involving the Pur brand in this project, we aim to support sustainable behaviors and encourage simple actions with major impact, such as recycling used cooking oil. Environmental responsibility is increasingly reflected in how we develop products and partnerships, and our collaboration with Auchan is a concrete example that brings real benefits to communities.”

The oil collected through the program is handled by a specialized partner responsible for transportation and initial processing, after which it is converted into biofuel — a process that helps prevent water contamination and reduce carbon emissions.