Retailers exceed targets on green goals
A new report has revealed that retailers have beaten a range of targets for reducing their impact on the environment.
Set up in 2008 by the British Retail Consortium, A Better Retailing Climate initiative committed businesses representing the majority of the UK retail market to sector-wide green goals.
A new progress report for the initiative shows that retailers went beyond their commitments to reduce their waste, energy and water usage in 2012. The report also reveals that the sector is on track with goals to reduce the environmental impact of customers in the supply chain in areas such as packaging and food waste in the home.
According to the report, targets were exceeded in all five areas of buildings, refrigeration, transport, water and waste.
Never Miss a Retail Update!In addition, retailers were found to be on track to achieve their targets for reducing customer impact in the supply chain across food waste, packaging and carrier bags.
BRC environment policy adviser Alice Ellison said: “This update demonstrates that the retail industry is going above and beyond in its commitments to reducing its environmental impact across all aspects of its operations. Despite the downturn and other challenges affecting business, retailers are continuing to innovate and collaborate in this space, which delivers real environmental benefits as well as value for their customers.
“We want to keep this momentum going past the 2008 commitments, so our next step is setting new targets to build on this progress and continue to invest in protecting the planet.”
