Sustainability from a Retail Perspective

Jane MilneDirector of Business Environment

British Retail Consortium

www.brc.org.uk/retailingclimate

What is sustainability?

What do UK customers say?• Retailers (supermarkets) are seen as the most

responsible sector with regard to climate change, ahead of the general public, electricity and car companies, food and drink manufacturers and government

• But there is still more to be done - only a minority are satisfied with current efforts on sustainability

• Collaboration is seen as an essential challenge if retailers are to move the agenda forward significantly

Sustainability Issues in the Retail Sector, Ipsos MORI 2007

A Better Retailing Climate

• Sector-wide• Leading actors and

those taking early steps

• Single, clear message

• Seeking to work with partners to deliver real change

Our goals1. Reduce the direct environmental impact of our

businesses2. Manage our climate risks3. Help our customers, staff and suppliers to

reduce their environmental impacts and vulnerabilities

4. Engage in the public policy debate and support the Government in meeting its climate change goals

5. Report our achievements transparently and consistently

Reduce the direct environmental impact of our businesses

– Cutting energy-related emissions from buildings by 15%

– Aiming for a reduction of 15% in energy-related transport CO2 emissions from stores deliveries

– Measuring water-use in sites accounting for 75% of usage, and setting targets for reductions

– Landfilling less than 50% of our waste, minimising waste from operations and managing sustainably unavoidable waste

Help our customers to reduce their environmental impacts/ vulnerabilities

• Helping customers to understand more about climate change

• Helping them make more informed decisions about– Energy efficient and low carbon products– Environmentally responsible ways to access our services– Recycling and waste disposal

• And providing or supporting services for– Reduced consumer packaging waste– Recycling and end of life product disposal

Help our suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts/ vulnerabilities

– Working with our suppliers to understand better• The carbon footprint of their production systems

– And to offer products that• Have a lower carbon footprint/higher energy efficiency • Are more sustainable• Have the most sustainable, and minimum effective,

packaging