Sustainability News in Retail
Completely Retail Marketplace takes a look at the latest Sustainability News from the world of retail.
Globally, consumers choose to buy from brands that commit to sustainability. Nowadays, going green is about more than just conserving energy or asking customers to recycle their shopping bags. Sustainability allows brands to better connect with their customers and do their bit for the planet.
According to research done by Forrester, 53% of brands say developing sustainability is crucial this year. Sustainability efforts include:
- Creating products that align with company values.
- Together launching products that are green or social impact-focused.
- Investing in establishing long-term sustainability goals and targets.
In this Snapshot blog post we take a look into how larger retail chains are implementing sustainability initiatives.
Read on to hear more Sustainability News in Retail.
Greggs opens its first Eco Store
Described as a ‘test bed’ for future in-store sustainability initiatives, Greggs has recently opened its very first EcoShop. Situated at Great Billing, Northampton, this brand new configuration for Greggs, will test inventive new solutions and initiatives for them. The Eco shop is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the company’s operations.
Forming a part of the Greggs Pledge, this new shop is part of the company’s sustainability plan which sets out ten commitments to help make the world a better place by 2025.
The Eco solutions being trialled are;
- recyclable flooring
- cistern-less and air assisted toilets
- eco-ovens
- heat pump air curtains
- solar control glass.
- All initiatives are focused on waste management, water reduction or overall energy reduction.
For the Longer term, Greggs has also set a target for a quarter of its shop estate to feature Eco elements. Greggs aim to continue to reduce the carbon footprint across its shops every year. This being an attempt in driving the company further towards its Net Zero carbon objective.
Tony Rowson Greggs property director stated in an interview with Retail Gazette : “We’re delighted to have launched our first Eco Shop, in line with our Greggs Pledge and Net Zero commitments. As a responsible business we have a duty to our customers and to our planet to change the world for the better,”
“Our new Eco-Shop format gives us a platform to develop and test solutions to minimise our impact on the environment by cutting our waste, energy and water usage.”
As we continue to trial new and innovative sustainability initiatives we look forward to making real progress in our goal to becoming a greener Greggs.”
M&S has launched its first sustainability innovation challenge for start-ups
In other retail sustainability news, M&S has launched its first sustainability innovation challenge for start-ups. Looking to work with tech-focused partners in its efforts to achieve its net zero goal by 2040.
In a collaboration with the innovation and investment firm True, M&S’s Ignite team is looking for ideas and technologies that can encourage more sustainable behaviours amongst M&S customers, as well as solutions that can help the business achieve further efficiencies in its agricultural supply chains.
The challenge is the latest example of how the retailer is taking action on the biggest sustainability challenges, including its focus on becoming a net zero scope 3 business, following the reset of its sustainability programme Plan A in September last year.
The winning application in each of the two challenges will receive support from M&S. This support being to develop a proof of concept and trial within M&S’s supply chain. This opportunity also allows scope for a wider rollout.
Halfords revealed plans to sell second-hand bicycles
Halfords has revealed plans to sell second-hand bicycles in a bid to enter the increasingly lucrative market. The retailer has stated that they will offer customers up to £250 for their unwanted bicycles.
Halfords estimates that there are currently seven million unused bicycles going to waste in sheds and garages. The plans involve refurbishing them and then selling them after a successful trial of the service.
Halfords noted that a lack of lorry drivers and shipping disruption was noted as cause for running short of some models following production problems at Covid-hit factories.
The Halfords scheme is geared towards bike owners upgrading their bikes, with the payment for their bike being made as a store credit.
Halfords chief executive, Graham Stapleton said; “With demand for bikes so high, well-publicised supply chain constraints, and a cost of living crisis on the horizon, it can’t be right that so many perfectly good bicycles are being left to gather dust in sheds and garages,”
Halfords’ bike sales rose 54% for its financial year to June. It plans to buy conventional bikes rather than electric models.
Mamas & Papas has partnered with Oxfam to launch a clothing take-back scheme
The nursery retailer is introducing the take-back scheme via collection points in its standalone stores as it looks to help stem the tide on the number of garments filling up landfills each year.
Oxfam has promised that no item goes to landfill – if it can’t be resold, the materials are used to make other products or broken down and disposed of responsibly, it says.
he announcement came as part of a package of environmental, social and governance pledges from Mamas & Papas.
The company has also inked a financial sponsorship he conservation charity Woodland Trust, to help protect native woodland in the Northern Forest and fund a new woodland grove in the trust’s Smithills Estate in Bolton.
The business has additionally signed up to be a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative’s (ETI) code of labour practice. Focused on overseas workers in the supply chain, the pledge covers issues such as wages, working hours, health and safety and the right to join trade unions.
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