Sustainability: a buzzword in retail or critical to success?
August 20, 2019
As Oscar Wilde said, “I can resist everything except temptation.”
However, do we question our temptation when we’re confronted with the facts?
The state of sustainability in retail
The Attenborough effect has made us more aware of climate change and our carbon footprint, but has it also made us shop differently? The British government now actively encourages and incentivizes businesses to go green and works with the British Retail Consortium to address sustainability across the industry.
But do retailers
What do consumers want?
According to Nielsen’s 2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Report, 66% of consumers would spend more money on products if they came from sustainable brands, and 67% of business school students would aim to incorporate environmental sustainability into their future jobs.
In addition, Nielsen found that

Rumor has it that retailers that show
Brands investing in sustainability
LEGO
Backed by the Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at the LEGO Group, LEGO has committed to using sustainable materials in all of its blocks and packaging, aiming for zero waste across all operations by 2030.
We are starting to LEAF conventional plastic behind! 🌳🌿🌲 Check out the first LEGO elements made from plant-based materials. 🙌 #sustainability pic.twitter.com/KM3a4Z3nfE
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) January 10, 2019
CHANEL
From toy bricks to little black dresses, the fashion house CHANEL has also shown its dedication to sustainability. The retailer has partnered with
There are many simple changes that brands can make to show their consumers
Selfridges
Selfridges uses its social media channels to engage with and educate its consumers about the importance of sustainability in retail. The department store often shares statistics about this issue and gives customers complete transparency about its sustainability actions and goals.
Awarded “World’s Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store” at the Global Department Store Summit 2016, Selfridges has shown its awareness of the sustainability issues at hand.
H&M
For brands that want to move toward being more environmentally conscious, there are some simple ways of achieving this
Be kind to your clothes (and the planet! 🌎💚). Drop off your old textiles at your local H&M store, and we'll give them a new life. Learn more about our garment recycling and more sustainability initiatives here: https://t.co/D9IIYya5AK #HMConscious pic.twitter.com/0Ssyn8AewS
— H&M USA (@hmusa) August 7, 2019
H&M, with its global garment-collecting strategy
H&M has also committed to hitting certain sustainability milestones in the next decade. By 2025, all of its packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. By 2030, all packaging will
Zara
Zara’s parent company, Inditex, has recently announced how its need to
Sustainable, organic, and recyclable clothing is all that Zara will sell in its stores as early as 2025. That’s less than six years away and shows that the retailer has made a serious sustainability pledge with a strong sense of urgency.
Everlane
Just one visit to Everlane’s website
Interested in a particular product from Everlane? You can quickly discover the “true cost” of producing it, by checking Everlane’s breakdown of the cost of materials, labor, transport, duties, and hardware. It’s also committed to
A prime example of Everlane’s commitment to sustainability
What’s next for Everlane? Although the company is already a market leader in
There are some easy ways for retailers to
As Oscar Wilde said, “I can resist everything except temptation.” The ever-growing and pressing need to live on both an ethical and sustainable planet has influenced everyone. From baby boomers to post-millennials, our temptation has switched and continues to move toward buying better.
Our buying behavior has changed, and retailers that continue to keep abreast of sustainability issues will ultimately
Learn more about what consumers want by checking out our recent report: "Rewriting the rules of retail engagement".
