Amazon, Greggs and Aldi are among 20 UK retailers that have signed a declaration to develop a decarbonisation plan to guide the industry towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
Coordinated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the declaration commissions the creation of a roadmap that will provide retailers with the guidance and support necessary to decarbonise.
In addition to cutting carbon emissions across shops, distribution centres and logistics, the signatories have also committed to decarbonise their supply chains and products.
Research for the roadmap will be carried out by environmental experts, with the plans published alongside a wider industry commitment in the run up to COP26.
“Climate change remains one of the biggest threats to the planet,” said BRC head of sustainability policy Peter Andrews. “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.”
Signatories to the deceleration include: Aldi, Amazon, the Booksellers Association of the UK & Ireland, Boots, Central England Co-operative, Co-op. Costa Coffee, Dixons Carphone, Greggs, Morrisons, IKEA UK & Ireland, Kingfisher, Lidl, M&S, Missguided, Musgrave, Next; Ocado, TJX UK and WH Smith.
The declaration states that the retailers “are coming together through the BRC to develop a ground-breaking 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”.
The work will build upon the Better Retail Better World campaign, through which retailers have reduced their carbon emissions from operations by over one-third since 2005.
“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,” Andrews continued. It will then be up to wider industry and government to implement the recommendations it set out.”
Source – IEMA
