Environment

Retail and wholesale companies are responding to the challenges set by climate change, scarcity of natural resources, loss of biodiversity etc. by constantly innovating and reducing the environmental footprint of their own activities and supply chain operations. These companies are also promoting more sustainable products and better informing consumers.

We have helped our members develop voluntary initiatives by setting up the Retailers’ Environmental Action Programme (REAP) under the EU Retail Forum for Sustainability. The joint Retail-EU Commission forum is a platform to foster dialogue with stakeholders along the supply chain to take the sustainability agenda forward.

Key messages:

1. Environmental priorities: We see tackling environmental issues as a commercial and political priority, in addition to responding to increased consumer expectation to tackle these issues.
    
2. Sustainable business: Our business models focus on reducing our environmental footprint, striving continuously to cut emissions, energy use, waste, water usage, and to maximise resource utilisation, re-use and recycling to reduce the overall environmental impact.
    
3. Raising consumer awareness: Retail and wholesale strives to provide the best levels of consumer information and so “nudge” our customers towards environmentally friendlier behaviours.