Retail Agility:
Putting the 'eco' in retail economics
We spoke to the UK’s top 100 retailers about the prioritisation of sustainability against cost concerns, sustainable supply chains and making green claims.
Explore the headlines or download the
report for the full research findings.
Battle of the priorities
Retailers understand the importance of sustainability, but many are struggling to safeguard it as a priority. Sustainability teams need to make themselves heard.
Lifestyle
& leisure
Home
Fashion
& beauty
Grocery
Sustainability Matters
Putting the 'eco' in retail economics
Download report
Contact us for more information or to discuss training and how we can help
Perran Jervis
Partner, Head of Retail and Consumer Goods
+44 (0)333 006 0320
+44(0)7766 548 791
perran.jervis@TLTsolicitors.com
T
M
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How important is sustainability to your business?
All
Important
Important
Important
Important
Important
Not
important
Not
important
Not
important
Not
important
Not
important
60%
59%
62%
53%
58%
21%
22%
19%
22%
20%
How has the importance of sustainability changed in the last year?
Safe bets, high risks and slow movers
In today’s market, not promoting your sustainability credentials is simply no longer an option. But the legal risks of making misleading claims is growing.
The report identifies three types of retailer, each with their own risks and opportunities:
38%
becoming more vocal about their sustainability credentials and confident about CMA compliance
“safe bets”
“high risks”
becoming more vocal about their sustainability credentials but not confident about CMA compliance
21%
“slow movers”
not becoming more vocal about their sustainability credentials
Greening the supply chain
When it comes to reducing emissions and using resources more efficiently, the supply chain is the area in need of most improvement.
Supply
chains issues
61%
What are the biggest areas for improvement when it comes to sustainability in retail?
Raw
materials
53%
Customer
communications
42%
Warehousing
and fulfilment
23%
Packaging
43%
Transport and logistics
37%
Labelling
22%
Auditing more frequently
44%
Switching to EV fleet
35%
Owning our own factories
28%
Stricter auditing rules
46%
Encouraging collection from store
48%
Sourcing closer to home
54%
What are you doing to improve the sustainability of your supply chain and fulfilment?
All
59%
Lifestyle
& leisure
53%
Home
58%
Fashion
& beauty
66%
Grocery
60%
Has sustainability had to take a step back due to the pandemic?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Our shareholders look at profits before sustainability
Sustainability Matters
59%
59% of retailers are becoming more vocal about their sustainability credentials
52%
Even though 52% say it’s impossible to know if they’re doing enough to say they’re sustainable
73%
And 73% believe customers misunderstand sustainability claims
16%
Only 16% are “very confident” they will meet the CMA’s expectations when it conducts a full review of green claims in 2022
+44 (0)333 006 0742
+44 (0)7825 922 908
duncan.reed@TLTsolicitors.com
T
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E
Duncan Reed
Partner, Regulatory
38%
21%
61%
53%
42%
37%
43%
23%
22%
54%
46%
44%
35%
28%
48%
“more vocal”
“impossible
to know”
“misunderstand”
“very confident”
Grocery
80%
YES
Fashion
& beauty
81%
YES
Home
73%
YES
Lifestyle
& leisure
75%
YES
All
77%
YES
30%
Risen up the agenda
Fallen down the agenda
30%
Grocery
Risen up the agenda
31%
Fallen down the agenda
31%
Fashion
& beauty
Risen up the agenda
35%
Fallen down the agenda
19%
Home
Risen up the agenda
41%
Fallen down the agenda
19%
Lifestyle
& leisure
Risen up the agenda
35%
Fallen down the agenda
24%
All
41%
41%