2.3

Emissions by retail sector

The category of goods sold with the largest share of emissions is Food, Drinks and Tobacco, driven largely by the volumes of grocery sales in the UK compared to other goods. 

Sector emissions broadly align with relative consumer spend in each retail category. There are some exceptions, for example electrical goods have a relatively high footprint compared to spend, due to the emissions associated with their use phase. In order to assess the accurate carbon footprint for a retailer or for a product category, more detailed information is needed on product composition and supply chain structures.