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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Nov- 2019 -27 NovemberDIY
Ikea profits slip amid increased focus on online business
DIY retail giant Ikea has reported a 10% decrease in profits for the year to the end of August 2019, amid an increased focus on its online business. The retailer said online sales growth was close to 50% during the period and is now surpassing 10% of total retail sales.…
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7 NovemberDIY
Ikea UK sales top £2bn in 2019
Furniture retailer Ikea has announced that total annual sales in the UK have soared by 8% to £2.1bn for the year ended 31 August 2019. The retail giant said it has continued to “outperform” the market in home furnishings, with an increase to 9% in the company’s UK market share,…
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7 NovemberComment
Sustainability Consumerism: How retailers are on the front line
We live in febrile times, and for once we are not talking about Brexit. Within the last year we have seen a global backlash against disposable plastics and mounting concern over climate change. Anxiety about deforestation, and especially the uncontrolled spread of industrial scale farming and ranching, also made the…
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Oct- 2019 -25 OctoberAdvice
How retail businesses can reduce electrical consumption
Energy remains one of the largest in-store operating costs for UK retailers; and with electricity prices in particular continuing to rise, an increasing focus on decarbonisation and expectations for businesses to be more environmentally responsible, pressure is more intense than ever for the sector to meet these challenges head on.…
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21 OctoberAdvice
How to bring the department store CX to your digital channels
The past few years have been cataclysmic for the health and beauty industry; with new pressures, market forces and trends at play, from sustainability, issues surrounding representation and transparency of supply chain management and ingredients. These moving parts have not been made easier by changes in consumer behaviour and a…
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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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