Major retailers team up to combat climate change

Twenty retailers, including Amazon, Boots UK, Ikea, Next, M&S and Ocado, have signed a declaration to tackle the causes of climate change.

This notes that retailers “are coming together through the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to develop a decarbonisation plan that will guide the industry on the steps necessary to accelerate progress to a Net Zero UK, ahead of the government’s 2050 target.”

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They will look to cut carbon emissions associated with their stores, distribution centres and logistics, and also their supply chains and the products people are buying every day.

Research will be conducted by environmental experts and published in the form of a roadmap, along with a wider industry commitment, in the run up to COP26. The work will build upon the Better Retail Better World campaign.

Peter Andrews, Head of Sustainability Policy at the BRC, says: “Climate change remains one of the biggest threats to the planet. As we start to recover from the coronavirus pandemic there is no better opportunity to build a greener more sustainable world.”

“The expectations of society are shifting rapidly. Greater action from businesses is expected. Retail will lead the way. Retailers, suppliers and customers all have their part to play in reducing their carbon emissions. This roadmap will be the first step towards a better, more sustainable future. It will then be up to wider industry and government to implement the recommendations it set out.”