The price barrier to sustainable shopping

Financial constraints are restricting ‘green and ethical living’, according to the British-based division of market researchers Mintel.

Indeed, one in five consumers are not in a financial position to think about green or ethical issues. Even before the recession, price premiums were a barrier to more widespread take-up of green and ethical products and the evidence of altered priorities is that 12% of adults stated that they could no longer afford price premiums for green or ethical products.

However, the new report also shows a strong commitment to ethical and environmental issues, as those rating them as ‘very important’ were actually up marginally on 2008. Today, some 97% of adults have adopted at least one of the greener behaviours included in the survey, implying that there is a strong basis of support for further green initiatives, such as energy-saving ideas, if retailers and manufacturers were to provide positive leadership.

Indeed, in terms of low cost greener actions such as using re-usable bags and switching to low energy light bulbs behaviour has been unaffected by the recession.

Australian research released this year by IBISWorld has highlighted the cost of shopping with a conscience, while a study by Unilever showed that 51% of Australians were more concerned by sustainability this year than last.

Click here to read further.

Source: http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2009/10/15/the-price-barrier-to-sustainable-shopping.html

Tesco lives the green life: Play the game!

Trying to live a greener, more environmentally responsible life can be very confusing.

Which is why Tesco has just launched Greener Living , to help the environmentally-aware shopper make the right decisions. The site covers many aspects of going greener, including sections on ecofriendly travel and greener homes. There's an interactive house with lots of money-saving green tips and products, fun stuff for the kids and how to eat greener – all with sustainability in mind. It also features updates on Tesco’s own commitment to environmental responsibility.

To launch this new site there's a fun flash game. The game is simple but challenging to play - can you collect the environmentally-friendly produce, while avoiding the energy-guzzlers and the pesky birds? Have a go and you could win one of five energy-efficient Indesit washing machines.

Assortment of sustainable products still limited

A research done by GfK in The Netherlands shows that 3,9 million Dutch people purchase sustainable products, but the assortment is still limited. This states the Dutch food speciality magazine Distrifood. The author of the book “Boodschappenbolwerk”, Frits Kremer, signalizes that supermarkets are talking for over years about the theme sustainability in the food sector and green retailing, but they act insufficiently green.

Dutch food retailer leader Albert Heijn introduced the private label Pure&Honoust, Jumbo introduced the conscious label and Super de Boer supermarkets pays a lot of attention to the animal welfare. This is what several speakers state at the congress of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international organization for the certification of sustainable caught fish.

The Dutch supermarkets belong to the leading companies with the sustainable fish, last year the total products with MSC logo increased with 165 products, to reach a total of 344 products.

Job vacancy Jos de Vries The Retail Company: Creative director Branding & Communication

Jos de Vries The Retail Company develops and realizes international progressive retail concepts with a right balance of creativity and commercial profitability. With conceptual thinking we work on the vision of the clients. This results into the realization of commercial succesfull store formulas with an own identity. Next to the central office in Maarssen (The Netherlands) we have offices in Spain, Germany and Russia.

We are on the search of a Creative Director Branding & Communication.

In this job you will be responsable for the development of the brand strategy and graphic communication for several international accounts in our agency. You work together with other creative directors (3D) to realize a total concept. Internally and externally you will be the contact person for the quality of the proejct as well as the progress of the project. You will manage the project team. Together with the management team you will decide the company vision and the strategical policy in the area of branding and communication. You are responsable for your turn-over, you will play an active role in the marketing and communication of our office. With your unique combination of creativity and commercial perception you are an inspiring partner for our clients and colleagues developing progressive retail concepts.

You will work from our head office in Maarssen (The Netherlands) and your working area will be whole Europe.

Background and education:

• Graphical design education at university level
• Several years of experience in the world of retail design with project responsability
• Inspiring personality with vision and power to convince
• Experience with communication on management level
• Prepareness to work independently as well as operating in project teams
• Knowledge of the European retail market
• Strongly developed sense for marketing and communication
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and German
• Availability to frequent travelling

For more information on our organization check http://www.josdevries.eu. For personal adjustments you can contact Jasmijn Prinssen by telephone +31 346 563764.

We look forward to receive your curriculum vitae and cover letter by e-mail info@josdevries.eu or by post: Jos de Vries The Retail Company BV, Postbus 1194, 3600 BD Maarssen.

http://www.josdevries.eu

Starbucks introduces in Spain its eco-efficient store concept

Back in 2002, Starbucks opened its first store, located in the Palace Hotel in the Madrilenean street Plaza de Neptuno. Seven years later, the emblematic store of the cafetaria chain reopened its doors with a totally new design, focusing on the environmental policy of the company.

The company used the renovation of the store not Orly to add more space (from 70 sqm up to 200 sqm), but also for the application of sustainable measurements in the building, the use of material and the new techniques to save energy, water and recycling.

The project forms part of the company´s project Shared Planet, the social responsability, converts the store in Madrid into the first store with this characteristics of Spain and the second one in Europe (the other one is located in Eurodisney in Parijs) and the fourth store of the world (in the United States, in Seattle there are 2 other stores).

Tesco Strikes LEED Gold in California

U.K. retailer’s first LEED Gold-certified store opens near Palm Springs

Environmentally friendly design has been a hallmark of the Tesco’s 125 Fresh and Easy stores opened in the U.S. since 2007. Now, the British grocery store giant is taking its green theme a step further with today’s debut of its first LEED Gold-certified Fresh and Easy store in Cathedral City, California.

Like other Fresh and Easy stores, the new location features energy efficient lighting and refrigeration. For example, skylights and oversized windows bring in more daylight, allowing overhead lights to dim automatically when natural lighting levels are sufficient. Refrigeration units use an estimated 10 percent less than standard models.

Retailers from all over the world share retailers best green practises

Greening Retail Program tackles environmental issues with new study and website.

(TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009)- The retail industry is a significant part of the Canadian economy with more than 1.2 billion square feet of space and sales of $425 billion in 2008. According to Greening Retail, an initiative lead by the Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), Canadian retailers and their suppliers are responsible for more than 40 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, six million tones of waste, and millions of kilometers travelled by trucks from around the world to every corner in Canada.

If just five per cent of retailers and their suppliers reduce energy use by 10 per cent, the estimated energy savings in one year would be equivalent to the energy required to power half a million homes and would result in a reduction of 1.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of removing 233,000 cars from the road for a year. Greening Retail’s new research report Best Environmental Practices From Around the World 2009, conducted by Evans and Company Consultants, and redesigned website were launched today. The report examines 15 of the top best-practice environmental retail leaders in the world, identifying their strategies and tactics in detail and outlining the ROI that can come from sustainable practices.

Here are some key findings from the study:

Grocery store chains are the earliest adopters of environmental best practices, followed by department stores and other large space users, and then specialty stores Environmental strategy needs to fit the company size and structure Top three ROI action points include: Appointing champions throughout the organization, reducing energy and reducing waste 13 of 15 companies produced a CSR report Over 80 per cent of the companies measure and track energy usage, waste produced and diverted, CO2 emissions, transportation and water usage.

“We found that there is strong support for environmental programs from leading Canadian retailers but they still face challenges when it comes to adopting best practices due to the lack of programs, research or identified returns on investments specifically for the retail sector,” said Bernie McIntyre, Manager Community Transformation Programs, Toronto and Region Conservation and project lead for the Greening Retail initiative. “The Greening Retail Program aims to fill the information gap for the industry. Access to relevant and practical data and best practices is critical for retailers to reduce their environmental footprint, save money and improve their bottom line.”

The 2009 study and redesigned website will be showcased at the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc (ICSC) Canadian Convention Deal Making and Trade Expo, Sept. 21-23 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Toronto and Region Conservation’s exhibit: booth G3). The redesigned website will support the study, contain research results and include tools such as: a searchable database of case studies covering environmental policies and governance; energy conservation; green energy; solid waste; water use; transportation; green products; supply chain/purchasing; staff training; customer education and marketing; corporate social responsibility reporting; benchmarks and green sites.

The site also hosts implementation resources in 14 categories of environmental best practices. A Greening Retail Blog and Forum are also in the works for retailers to interact with experts. “Through the study we were able learn what made the world’s top environmental retailers successful in greening their business,” said McIntyre. “We’ve taken this information and turned it into a useful report and integrated case studies and other findings into the website. We hope it will become an important resource for the industry and help the retail sector with its green transformation.” About Greening Retail Developed by Toronto and Region Conservation in 2008, Greening Retail undertakes research, develops resources and programs, and facilitates demonstration projects to help retailers implement environmental best practices.

Greening Retail works in partnership with sector leaders, government agencies and other organizations to provide retailers with the strategies and tools they need in order to take action. Program partners include: Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity, Ryerson University, Retail Council of Canada, ESADE in Spain, University of Stirling, Hitotsubashi University, Evans & Company Consultants Inc., University of Metz, Sustainable Retailing Consortium - National Retail Federation. Sponsors includes Smart!Centres and Environment Canada. For more information go to www.greeningretail.ca Toronto and Region Conservation With over 50 years of experience, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) helps people understand, enjoy and look-after the natural environment. Our vision is for The Living City®, where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature's beauty and diversity. For more information, call 416-661-6600 or visit the website www.trca.on.ca