Sustainability
This coverage examines sustainability initiatives and challenges within the UK retail sector. Reporting highlights environmental strategies, supply chain improvements, energy efficiency, packaging innovation, and leadership commitments aimed at reducing impact and meeting regulatory expectations. Tailored for executives and managers, it provides insights to support sustainable decision-making and long-term planning.
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Oct- 2019 -18 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Throwaway Halloween costumes to produce 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste
An estimated 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste will be generated from throwaway Halloween clothing and accessories, sold by leading retailers in the UK, research suggests. The study estimates that this is equivalent by weight of waste plastic to 83 million bottles. An investigation by Hubbard, an environmental charity, estimated that…
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15 OctoberEconomy
BRC ‘disappointed’ with business rates relief in Queen’s speech
The British Retail Consortium has responded to the Queen’s speech, praising its approach to crime and sustainability but was “surprised and disappointed” at its approach to business rates. Commenting on the speech, which tackled issues such as immigration, crime, business rates and brexit, The BRC said: “The Government should implement…
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10 OctoberSupermarkets
UK grocers criticised over ‘harsh’ working conditions for tea and fruit farmers
Oxfam has alleged that “poor pay” and “harsh working conditions” are commonplace on farms and plantations in Brazil and India which supply tea or fruit to some of the UK’s biggest grocers, according to new research by the charity. The supermarkets named by Oxfam include Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons.…
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Sep- 2019 -13 SeptemberSupermarkets
M&S partners with infarm to bring urban farming to London stores
M&S Food has announced a new partnership with Infarm – the urban farming platform – to deliver a range of fresh produce grown and harvested in a selection of M&S’ London stores. Thanks to the partnership customers can now find a range of fresh herbs – including Italian, Greek and…
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3 SeptemberAdvice
Fast fashion and the role that retailers have to play in tackling it
The fashion industry has never been without its critics, but today it seems to be drowning in them. PETA’s iconic ‘I’d rather go naked than wear fur’ billboard campaign of the early nineties, when the likes of Kim Basinger, Pamela Anderson and Christy Turlington were persuaded to get their kit…
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Aug- 2019 -9 AugustComment
Halting the demise of the ‘not my department’ store
Be it House of Fraser, retail bellwether John Lewis or in-the-wars Debenhams, department stores are in the news for all the wrong reasons – whether for profit warnings, sales dips or being sued by Sports Direct. The pace of change in the retail industry is ever accelerating, and department stores…
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Jul- 2019 -17 JulyClothing & Shoes
Zara owner Inditex launches new sustainability strategy
Inditex, the parent company of fashion brands Zara, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti has unveiled its new sustainability line that by 2023 aims to eliminate all single-use plastics for customers sales. At the company’s AGM meeting yesterday (16 July 2019) executive chairman Pablo Isla said “the culture of diversity, innovation…
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Jun- 2019 -24 JuneHigh Street
Game accepts £52m Sports Direct takeover
Video game retailer Game has agreed to Sports Direct’s £52m takeover offer. Prior to the agreement, the retailer’s board said it had been considering the merits of the mandatory offer and consulting with its major shareholders and advisers, whilst also actively engaging in normal course discussions with Sports Direct and…
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18 JuneClothing & Shoes
Gov rejects MPs’ sustainable fashion recommendations
The government has rejected all the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee (ECA) in February with the aim to “end the era of throwaway fashion”. The MPs published its report called Fixing Fashion Report: Clothing Consumption and Sustainability following the end of its sustainability of the fashion industry inquiry.…
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17 JuneAdvice
Tailoring the consumer experience
Consumers are increasingly looking for more personal, community-orientated shopping experiences, with a recent IRI survey highlighting that over 50% of UK customers prefer to shop local. While 10 years ago this meant visiting the 7-11 corner shop, a high street butcher or your local fashion store, the revolution of retail…
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