A Better Retailing Climate

Report Launch:
A Better Retailing Climate: Towards Sustainable Retail
Tuesday 31 January 2012- Terrace Pavilion, House of Commons

Retailers are committed to improving their environmental credentials. For three years, retailers have worked together to meet the targets set out in the BRC's landmark climate change initiative ‘A Better Retailing Climate'. This initiative has seen huge improvements made across the sector, with carbon emissions from stores and transport cut, waste diverted from landfill and consumer awareness increased.

The 2011 progress report will again show significant improvements across the sector. However, it will also go further than previously and will highlight a number of the more complex challenges retailers are working to address, such as responsible sourcing and genuine environmental and economic sustainability.

The reception, hosted by Mark Spencer MP, will be addressed by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as Rob Templeman, Chairman of the BRC. It will also be attended by the full spectrum of retailers, NGOs, the media, and decision-makers.

At the reception, a number of retailers will be showcasing their work, through samples of particular products or via demonstrations of innovative solutions they have developed in the move towards sustainable retail. They will be available to talk first hand regarding their experiences and their work with their supply chains to embed regard for the environment throughout their systems.

Report at a glance
Reducing the direct impact of retail operations: reducing carbon emissions from buildings and transport, waste to landfill and managing water use more effectively.

Managing our climate risks and maximising opportunities: climate change adaption.

Collaboration across the sector to achieve longer term sustainability and support stakeholders to do the same: the importance of collaboration and examples of collaborative projects.

Supporting customers, staff and suppliers to reduce their impact: empowering customers, reducing product impacts, supporting customers to manage their waste more sustainably, supporting suppliers to become more resilient and prepare future risks.

Responsible sourcing: how retail is improving sourcing practices for key commodities, including fish, timber, clothing, palm oil, soy and dairy.

Supporting Government to achieve their climate goals: via responsibility deals, local initiatives and support via relevant forums.

Agenda
12:30 Guests arrive
13:00 BRC Chairman's Address: Rob Templeman, Chairman, British Retail Consortium
13.05 Keynote Speech: Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
13:15 EDF Energy
13:20 Networking & Canapes
14:30 Close

Audience
The event has been specifically produced for retailers, MPs, senior policy officials and other stakeholders of the commitment and work retailers are doing.

This event is free to attend and by Invitation only