John Lewis Partnership’s new eco commitments, Quality Street changing its wrappers to paper material, and the winners of Starbucks’ Bring it Back funding were among this week’s key stories covered by this publication.
The following news in brief rounds up the week in greener retailing.
Tesco aligns executive pay to sustainability measures
Tesco group CEO Ken Murphy has outlined the UK’s largest grocer’s next steps in the fight against food waste.
A key announcement from his statement was to reveal, for the first time, Tesco will align executive pay performance targets to key sustainability measures, including reducing food waste.
“We are one of the first, and hopefully not the last, UK food retailer to do this,” he said.
“While I’m proud of our progress and recognise the vital importance targets play in setting the benchmark and focusing minds, it’s the practical frontline action that really changes things.”
DispatchTrack unveils AI-powered carbon emissions tracking
Delivery software company DispatchTrack has announced the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered carbon emissions tracking tool with the aim of helping companies meet their supply chain sustainability goals.
DispatchTrack said it is available as a feature in its routing console, and can help businesses understand their existing carbon output on a per-route, per-stop, and per-vehicle basis. It promised to better optimise routes to reduce CO2 output, and gather data to illustrate the impact of users’ sustainability initiatives.
Emissions data is included within routing and reporting screens, allowing users to visualise carbon emissions for each stop. The software company said the information will dynamically update as routes are changed, based on configurable emissions expectations based on different vehicle and load types.
Alex Buckley, general manager of EMEA & APAC operations at DispatchTrack, who was interviewed by Green Retail World last month, said: “Consumers are making more and more of an effort to make sustainable choices.
“What better way for brands to help them do that – and show off their own success at boosting sustainability – than by being able to seamlessly track and report the reduction of CO2 emissions in their deliveries?”
Average UK adult ‘has 31 wardrobe items that haven’t been worn for a year’
The average UK adult has 31 items in their wardrobe that haven’t been worn for at least a year, according to a new study from waste prevention organisation Wrap.
The NGO said the average UK adult has 118 items of clothing in their wardrobes, and called on people to rethink their relationship with buying garments based on research which suggests the fashion sector is responsible for a significant percentage of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that harm the planet.
Catherine David, director for collaboration & change at Wrap, said: “The clothing and textiles sector has the fourth largest environmental impact on the planet and that’s why Wrap is working with the UK’s biggest retailers and brands to address this through the ambitious targets of Textiles 2030.
“Many people are already buying and selling pre-loved clothing, but our study shows the huge financial and environmental opportunity that is unworn in all our wardrobes. Textiles 2030 signatories are already beginning to introduce resale and rental business models, but these alongside repair models must become widespread if the fashion industry is to begin to achieve the reductions in GHG emissions necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.”
Mobilising action on climate change and environment
The House of Lords Committee on Environment & Climate Change will publish its ‘Mobilising action on climate change and environment: behaviour change report’ on Wednesday 12 October 2022.
The report will warn that without changes to people’s behaviours now, reaching net zero by 2050 is not achievable and it calls on the government to provide clarity and lead by example on several everyday issues, such as:
- how we travel
- what we eat and buy
- how we use energy at home
The report also examines government policies to help low-income households with costs regulation, taxation, and development of infrastructure, as well as the role of business in enabling behaviour change.
Thrift+ becomes a B-Corp
Fashion resale company Thrift+, which works with several UK fashion retailers to find new homes for customers’ unwanted garments, has become a B Corporation (B Corp). It joins the global movement of companies putting people and planet first.
To achieve certification, companies are required to provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices, as well as legally embedding their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.
Some 5,575 businesses globally have now certified as B Corps. More than 950 companies in the UK are part of that group.
Thrift+’s B Corp application included evidence of major recent achievements, such as:
- 400,000 items of clothing recirculated
- Over £2 million raised for charity through online resale
- 20+ fashion industry partnerships with major brands
- 201,700kg of CO2 offset after conducting a rigorous carbon footprint assessment
Founder of Thrift+ Joe Metcalfe said: “We are delighted to be recognised and plan to continue driving up standards across the business so that we are turning fashion into a force for good.”
[Image credit: DispatchTrack]
