Sustainability time, read about the who and how: what are retailers doing to address environmental and social challenges they face, what help are they getting to implement good practice initiatives?
Unilever’s commitment to put sustainable and equitable growth at the heart of its business model is helping to drive increased sales while reducing costs and risks, according to the company’s second Sustainable Living Plan Progress Report. Brands that have made
The Co-operative Food has reduced the weight of the glass on 20 own brand wines, helping to reduce the carbon impact of its packaging. Working with supplier, Kingsland Wines and Spirits, the lightweighting move will save 725 tonnes of glass
Ethical trading organisation, Twin, has launched an initiative called Adapt Now to help businesses secure smallholder supply chains in a changing climate. Adapt Now’s first project, delivered in partnership with Marks & Spencer (M&S), coffee roaster Matthew Algie and Twin,
The Co-operative Food is extending its Fairtrade chocolate range with three indulgent new varieties. In stores nationwide from 6 April 2013, the additions to the Fairtrade chocolate come from Ghana and the Dominican Republic and comprise: Truly Irresistible Fairtrade Ghanaian Milk Chocolate with Toffee and
Spar claims it is well on track to be the first Austrian retailer to offer only sustainable fish by the end of this year, with the launch of its first Aquacultural Stewardship Council (ASC) certified fish. Spar Pangasuis fillet is
The Co-operative Food claims it will become the first retailer in the UK to switch all own brand bunches of standard roses and single stem roses to Fairtrade today (11 February 2013). As part of The Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to Fairtrade, and
Organic food brand, What On Earth, is now supplying and distributing English Tea Shop teas. The teas available are Fairtrade and certified organic by the Soil Association. Award winning What On Earth will supply more than 20 flavours of English
Gerber reports its Fairtrade fruit juice, Fruit Passion, has seen sales rocket by 381% in the last year. The sales growth follows the relaunch of the brand, which included the introduction of new pack formats such as 250ml and 500ml
The Southern Co-operative (TSC) has achieved CO2 equivalent savings of over 69 tonnes and more than halved power usage at its new community food store at Chobham in Surrey with the help of refrigeration specialist, DCI Refrigeration & Electrical. DCI said
Unilever has announced more than 50% of its factories have achieved the goal of sending no waste to landfill in 2012. And the manufacturer said it is stretching its original target for 100% zero waste to landfill further by bringing
Primula brand owner, The Kavli Trust, has donated a £25,000 to Tyne and Wear Riding for the Disabled Association based at Washington Riding Centre, fully funding two brand new blocks of stables. The new livery stables will house up to eight new
Nampak Plastics, the UK’s leading manufacturer of HDPE milk bottles, has scooped two top awards this month for its commitment to the environment. The company behind the Infini lightweight milk bottle was awarded a Gold Star by National Recycling Stars as
Spar UK and multi-temperature supply chain specialist, Oakland International, have taken home the Environmental Contribution Award at the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards in the category of Contribution to Environmental Improvement: Climate Change. They were presented with the award in
IGD’s Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) UK initiative has set a new waste prevention target for the food and grocery industry. Building on the success of the original target set in 2010, the industry’s extended target now aims to prevent 200,000
Leading UK fruit juice supplier, Gerber Juice Company, claims it has devised an environmentally-friendly and novel way of reducing transport costs. The Bridgwater, Somerset-based company has been working in partnership with CHEP UK, which provides pallet and pooling systems globally,
The Co-operative Food is switching all of its fresh winter blueberries to Fairtrade from 25 November 2012, meaning all of the retailer’s blueberries which can be Fairtrade, will be Fairtrade. As part of The Co-operative’s Ethical Plan, which was
Asda is expanding its Sustain & Save Exchange programme for suppliers, following the news that it has saved £13m through sustainability innovations over the past year. The scheme, which launched in early 2012, enables Asda and its suppliers to share
Spar Switzerland claims to be reaching a new milestone with the addition of a full hybrid Volvo truck to its fleet. According to the retailer, the new vehicle will ensure fuel consumption and C02 emissions can be reduced by 20%
Waitrose has teamed up with Start, the sustainable living initiative inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales, to launch a campaign across its 284 shops, to help people take their next steps towards greener living. The Start September initiative will feature a selection of
Marks & Spencer has opened a new store in Cheshire Oaks, Chester, which is its largest outside London and the most sustainable. Designed by architects Aukett Fitzroy Robinson (AFR), the store is claimed to set new standards for sustainability in
Ethical UK water brand, Belu, is claiming a market first with the launch of the first British 100% carbon neutral green plastic sparkling water bottle, available in 500ml. Belu said it has established a loyal customer base in both retail and
Multi-channel retailer Sears Canada has teamed up with award-winning provider of sustainability and energy management software, CloudApps, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions by 20% in 2013. The retailer has already achieved a 17% reduction at the end of
Leading British textile manufacturer Hainsworth reports it has seen a 700% increase in sales of its woollen coffins. Around 120 Natural Legacy coffins, manufactured by the Yorkshire-based company, are being sold each month compared to just 15 a month the
A team of three first year Durham University students has been crowned champions of Unilever’s Sustainable Business Challenge, a competition open to all current UK and Ireland university students in order to engage the next generation of business leaders in
Unilever UK has announced a new partnership with Brentwood Borough Council, Chelmsford Council and WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme) to change consumer habits and encourage Essex residents to recycle their tea bags. The campaign kicks off today (14 May
