Retailers still falling short in sustainability promises says report

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Oct 27, 2021

Some 96% of UK retailers are taking steps to be more sustainable across their operations since the pandemic, according to a new findings. But there’s a huge gap between what brands say they’re doing and what they’re actually achieving, research from Visualsoft and Klarna has revealed.

Based on a UK survey of 200 retailers, the ‘Get.Set.Grow’ report claims this “say-do gap” sees retailers falling short in many areas. 

Just 36% of retailers are using recycled materials in the manufacturing of new products; only 24% are using renewable materials; 24% are using fewer resources in the production of goods; 29% of retailers are consolidating packages when shipping products to customers; and just 24% of UK brands say they partner with environmentally-friendly delivery companies.

“Sustainability is becoming more important as environmental concerns influence consumer choice. This shift in mindset has become a powerful driving trend for retailers, even more so since Covid-19. However, while the vast majority of retailers say they have taken steps to be more sustainable across their operations, our research shows there is still a long way to go,” said Dean Benson, CEO at Visualsoft..

“There remains a huge gap between what brands say they want and what they’ll actually do to improve their sustainability practices. This goes for shoppers and brands alike.”