Launched in May 2013, the free monthly magazine contains features on the latest news in energy, design, resources and logistics in retail sustainability. Columnists so far have included Bioregionals Pooran Desai; former secretary of state for the environment , Caroline Spelman; and Kingfisher CEO, Ian Cheshire. The magazine has also featured interviews with The Co-operatives head of sustainability, Chris Shearlock, Cradle to Cradle pioneer Dr Michael Braungart and most recently Sir Jonathon Porritt.
Retail Environment editor Charlotte Owen said: We are delighted to provide wider access to the magazine which aims to cover a variety of sustainability issues, including waste management and recycling, in the retail sector which is key to the economy in the UK.
In the current edition, talking to Charlotte, Jonathon Porritt said retailers held the biggest responsibility to affect consumer behavioural change: Of all the sectors in the economy, the one that is most creative, even inventive about this, is retail because they are having to deal with this; they are having to get their heads around what it means to build propositions for consumers around the whole sustainability story.
“We are delighted to provide wider access to the magazine which aims to cover a variety of sustainability issues, including waste management and recycling, in the retail sector which is key to the economy in the UK”
Charlotte Owen, Retail Environment
Under fire was the UKs textile industry which Porritt believes will go through substantial changes. Not because customers are boycotting the stores that were performing really badlybecause the retailers themselves have come to the conclusion they cant go on any longer ignoring the absolute injustice at the heart of their supply chain, he said.
Sustainability
Porritt also vouched firmly in favour of more government support for business sustainability. At the end of the day its still the governments that have the mandate; theyre the ones that create the rules in the market against which the private sector has to behave. You cant take government out of it, Ive never been party to the view that its business that will take on the principle leadership and all will be wellI just dont believe that because I know we cant do this without government.
The July/August edition of Retail Environment includes input from Biffa over a way to help the retail sector eliminate waste from landfill. Biffa addressed the progress retailers are making on balancing the need to preserve products with packaging but also reduce waste and respond to householders frustrations with high amounts of seemingly unnecessary packaging (much of which is still not recyclable).
In addition the summer issue featured a profile of the newly crowned Commercial Recycling Champion, Sharon Parsons. Sharon, who is B&Qs waste implementation manager, won the title at the Awards of Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management held in May at Londons Landmark Hotel.
The September issue will see Waitroses head of sustainability, Quentin Clarke discuss everything from packaging to animal welfare, Charlotte address what sacrifices are made to deliver cheap fashion and Ricardo AEAs resource efficiency and waste management practice director, Adam Read explore the challenges and advantages to resource efficiency in the
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