by Shane Henson — January 2, 2012—According to new research from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), U.K. retailers have made significant gains in reducing their carbon emissions, as companies representing more than half of the U.K.’s total retail turnover are now certified to the Carbon Trust Standard, a rigorous, independent assessment of carbon data.
The standard certifies that an organization has reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions, and demonstrates commitment to becoming a more sustainable business supporting a cleaner environment. To achieve the standard, organizations need to demonstrate that they are measuring, managing and reducing their carbon emissions across their operations, and commit to reducing further each year.
“Heat, light, refrigeration and distribution for retail outlets drive energy consumption, carbon emissions and operating costs,” commented Darran Messem, managing director of certification at the Carbon Trust. “I am encouraged that more and more retailers in the U.K. are recognizing the reputational and economic benefits of cutting their carbon emissions.”
The economic benefits can indeed be huge, as many companies have found sustainable practices benefit their bottom line. Research from BrandZ shows that about 20 percent of sales are influenced by corporate reputation, and 61 percent of people surveyed on behalf of the Carbon Trust said they would be more likely to buy from a company if it has a good reputation for reducing its impact on climate change.
