Home > Sectors > Retail

Sectors

Retail

About this sector

Customers are increasingly demanding products that are more efficient; last longer and are more environmentally friendly. As the retail sector sells a variety of products and multiple materials are used and supply chains are huge and impacts and decencies on biodiversity are important.


Impacts

  • Land conversion and degradation from building and using retail stores and warehouses.
  • Over-harvesting of minerals and biological material used in products
  • Pollution, excessive water use and CO2 release from the production and transport of products.

Opportunities/Risks

  • Consumer trends: The emerging trend for sustainable products creates opportunities
  • Supply: Environmental degradation will compromise the supply and productivity of natural fibres and materials.
  • New designs: Biodiversity can provide inspiration for new and novel materials and designs.

Case Studies


Biodiversity monitoring

Biodiversity monitoring

Nestlé is a multinational packaged foods company founded in 1922 and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, with a market capitalization of over $93 billion Canadian. It employs approximately 3,500 people in Canada who work in the company’s more than 20 facilities, including manufacturing, sales, and distribution centers. Nestlé Waters Canada is Canada’s largest manufacturer and distributor of bottled water and operates 2 bottling plants across Canada. Other than bottled water, Nestlé product lines include coffee, juice, ice cream, baby food/formula, healthcare nutrition, pet care, confectionery and pharmaceuticals.


Tools and Mechanisms


Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources

http://www.ansab.org/

ANSAB is a civil society organization committed to biodiversity conservation and economic development through community-based, enterprise-oriented solutions. ANSAB works across South Asia and places community empowerment and economic incentives at the heart of its approach, believing that as people benefit from natural resoruces they become more motivated to protect them - and vice-versa.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RPSO)

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RPSO)

http://www.rspo.org/

The RPSO is a multistakeholder initiative that has developed and is implementing global standards for sustainable palm oil. Additionally, a site and supply chain certification scheme has been developed and a biodiversity working group is in place. This is addressing issues concerning high conservation value, compensation schemes, (riparian) corridors & set-asides, biodiversity assessment methodologies, and green corridors/landscape issues.
UNEP Sustainable Consumption & Production Branch

UNEP Sustainable Consumption & Production Branch

http://www.uneptie.org/scp/about/

The Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Branch focuses on achieving increased understanding and implementation by public and private decision makers of policies and actions for SCP. Given the breadth of the challenges and actions required to achieve SCP, activities are focused on specific tools, encompassing policies, market-based instruments, and voluntary approaches, with emphasis given to some specific economic sectors.

Choose another sector


Retail

Case studies
Tools and Mechanisms