Thursday 3 March 2016

UK retailers on course to meet 2020 green targets

British retailers are on track to meet their 2020 environmental targets.

That’s according to a report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) which stated the industry is making “significant” progress around carbon emissions, water management and waste reduction.

The BRC set environmental targets such as reducing absolute carbon emissions by 25% and halving energy-related emissions from buildings by 2020.

Waitrose and M&S are among the retailers which signed up to the green goals.

The report added some retailers have set targets for the reduction of carbon emissions within their supply chains and are working with suppliers through workshops, internet forums and knowledge hubs to achieve them.

Since 2005, retailers have reduced their emissions from store deliveries by 40% and from stores by 35%.

Carbon emissions from stores by transport have also been cut by 19% during the same period while greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration have been reduced by 50%.

It stated businesses have increased measurement of water use by 28% and reduced the amount of water used in stores by 23%.

Andrew Opie, BRC Director of Food and Sustainability said: "A Better Retailing Climate clearly demonstrates that creating and maintaining sustainable supply chains is at the heart of retail businesses. We fully appreciate the positive role we can play with suppliers and consumers in meeting head on challenges of climate change and resource efficiency. We are confident that we will meet by the year 2020, the ambitious voluntary targets we've set for ourselves."