Marks & Spencer, Next and the John Lewis Partnership are among more than 25 UK retailers backing a new action plan launched by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to advance sustainability, development and equality in the retail sector.
Called ‘Better Retail Better World,’ the action plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and waste; support all people to enter and progress in employment; and lead the fight to eradicate modern slavery.
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It includes a series of stretching targets for the retail industry to achieve by 2020, and uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework.
Retailers including House of Fraser, Debenhams and Sainsbury’s have also inked the Better Retail Better World pledges.
Its targets include:
- Embedding a policy that no worker in the supply chain should pay for a job, to provide a safeguard against modern slavery. This is to tackle situations where low-wage workers borrow large sums of money to cover recruitment fees, putting them at risk of exploitation, including debt bondage.
- Publicly disclosing how retailers are supporting people from underrepresented demographics to progress in employment.
- Reducing waste, greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.
As part of the project, retailers will share knowledge and best practice, and disclose progress on these goals. Retail is one of the first industries to take collective action in this way.
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By GlobalData“This is part of a growing movement for change. It is time for the retail industry to show what it can do for the common good,” says BRC chairman Richard Pennycook. “We are taking collective action to build a better, more prosperous and sustainable world, and demonstrating how we are making a positive contribution to society, in terms of the supply chain, food packaging, and waste.”
The Better Retail Better World launch follows plans for the first industry-led Retail Sector Council, which will be chaired by Pennycook and retail minister Andrew Griffiths MP as part of a bid to encourage growth and positive change in the sector.
UK retail industry-led coalition to boost sector growth
“Retail is a driving force for our economy and our recently launched Retail Sector Council will seek to boost the industry’s economic health and sustainable growth,” adds Griffiths.
“Through our Industrial Strategy and the Good Work Plan, we have already made steps to create a stronger, fairer society, and it’s encouraging to see retailers coming together to fulfil these ambitions through the Better Retail, Better World initiative.”
