3 minute read
Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival Review
Seeking a more sustainable future
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira (British Independent Retailers Association) discusses how independent retailers can work on becoming more sustainable
Sustainability is a hot topic, and with so many rising prices for us all, and products being more difficult to get hold of, it’s important for retailers to look at their systems and processes from top to bottom to ensure they are sustainable in all that they do.
Here are our tips on how to be - and stay - sustainable in what is a very tough market at the moment:
Save energy. If you are looking to change to low energy lightbulbs, these can be purchased locally. Some use 90% less energy and last 40 times longer. So it’s a quick and easy switch to make. Another bonus is that by doing so, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40kg a year.
CEO Andrew Greenacre
Reuse packaging. If you are delivering products, use the packaging received from your suppliers. Recycling/reusing packaging such as boxes and paper is a simple way to make a difference. Not only is it better for the environment, but it will save you money in the long run.
If you are delivering locally, can it be done in
an electric/hybrid vehicle? We know that some retailers have even reintroduced bicycle delivery using electric bikes, and it actually is a real showstopper. Not only does it demonstrate to customers that you are thinking of the long term, but it can also be turned into great social media stories. The bikes can be used for advertising, and your customers will appreciate the extra effort you have gone to to think about servicing them from end to end. Plus there are also great health benefits if you fancy cycling too, and you will lower your business’ carbon emissions this way.
Look at your supply chain. Can you buy locally? Are your suppliers taking steps to reduce their own carbon footprints? Can you source greener substitute products? Many businesses look at supply chain mapping, which can be done relatively easily and there is plenty of help and advice online. You can find out more about how your products and services are produced, from where and by whom.
Can you go plastic free? At least avoid single-use plastics such as water bottles. Larger stores are signing pledges to not buy single-use plastic bottles and it’s a huge movement at the moment, which is only set to get bigger. If you sell drinks, offer customers the opportunity to use their own cups. Many coffee shops are now offering a small discount on drinks prepared with customers’ own cups, or have returnable cups and crockery for people to ‘borrow’. With prices increasing, even just a few pence off makes a huge difference - not just to our pockets, but also the environment. So why not give it a trial run?
Work with other businesses in your
community. Share ideas and develop your very own Green Street! Why not speak to your neighbouring shops to see if they want to get involved? Not only would this make a good story for your social channels and local press, but we believe shoppers really are looking for something different and a sense of community when they visit their local high street.
Ask customers for ideas. What would they like to see? This is a really great way to get customer involvement. Perhaps they want to see more visibility of where their products are sourced from, or maybe they want to know the steps you have taken to become more sustainable. You could invite them to come up with suggestions on your social channels, or through signs and prompts in your shop.
Finally, if you are making all this effort –
TELL PEOPLE! Make it clear that you are taking steps to be a sustainable retailer. All the research is saying that shoppers want to use ethical shops with ethical products. So, don’t be shy: make sure people know the strength of your green credentials. Sustainability may seem like a cost, but it is in fact a real opportunity. Call: 0800 028 0245 Visit: www.bira.co.uk
