UK retailers look to reach Net Zero by 2040
63 UK retailers, including Co-op, Iceland Foods, John Lewis Partnership, M&S and Sainsbury’s, are committing resources to support the BRC Climate Action Roadmap.
This aims to bring the retail industry and its supply chains to Net Zero by 2040.
“We believe that with vital support from government, the retail industry can decarbonise stores by 2030, deliveries by 2035 and products by 2040,” the BRC said in a press release.
“The future is exciting, from algae-based carbon-absorbing clothes; shops and cafes powered by energy captured from customers’ footsteps; to drone delivery and even products ‘printed’ at home by 3D printers. The opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in retail are huge,” it added.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, says: “Climate change is a threat that none of us can afford to ignore. The Climate Action Roadmap is a clear and decisive statement that the retail industry is ready to take on this challenge - to be part of the solution.”
“By 2040, we want every UK customer to be able to be able to make purchases – in-store and online – safe in the knowledge that they are not contributing to global heating.”
She adds: “Never before has an entire industry been so ambitious in tackling climate change. Retail is the critical gateway between vast international supply chains and every one of us as citizens. We have a fantastic opportunity to make a real global difference if we can all work collectively.”
Plans for the roadmap will be outlined today at the UNFCCC Race to Zero Dialogues.