Some 76% of UK retailers have not set nature protection targets, despite the urgent need for businesses to address biodiversity loss.
That is the key finding from the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Planning for Nature report, released this month.
The publication said retailers must urgently address the accelerating loss of nature and biodiversity or they risk jeopardising supply chain resilience. According to the research, 52% of retailers are yet to make any public commitments on nature, and 67% lack a data led-strategy.
However, there is some momentum being generated. Some 29% of retailers are developing public commitments, 24% are starting to engage with their suppliers on nature, 29% are working on a nature strategy, and 25% indicate nature is a top business priority for the year ahead.
Retail groups such as John Lewis Partnership, which runs John Lewis department stores and the Waitrose grocery chain, does have a plan for nature – working in association with environmental not-for-profit organisation, WWF.
The BRC said it will continue to track and publish annual updates on nature planning, and it will help its members create workable nature policies, establish standardised metrics, improve supplier engagement, and build the business case for nature.
UK government is also set to publish its revised Environment Improvement Plans, which the trade body said will be crucial for progress.
Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the BRC, commented: “Despite the huge costs and pressures in supply chains, it is imperative that we maintain progress to protect and restore our environment.
“It is great to see such a number and variety of UK retailers stepping up to their responsibilities, working with their suppliers to make practical changes to reduce our impact on the environment, all the while maintaining affordability and choice for customers”
He added: “We look forward to seeing the government’s revised Environment Improvement Plans, and working closely with them and retailers to make further progress in this critical area.”
[image credit: Green Retail World]
