Sustainability Community

Championing sustainability to protect your retail business, support your environmental responsibility, and enhance resilience

Championing sustainability is a critical task for the retail industry. As a responsible and sustainable business, your operations and supply chains are dependent on healthy environments and communities across the world.

Retailers are navigating an increasingly complex sustainability policy and regulatory landscape, alongside growing customer expectations for businesses to demonstrate meaningful action on climate and the environment. These are often complex problems that require collaborative approaches.

The Sustainability Community provides the platform for retailers to work together and lead the drive for positive sustainable change. We bring together retailers across the board to share insights and influence most relevant policies for the industry, give you a horizon scan of the most pressing legislative and policy priorities, and facilitate engagement with UK Governments and regulators.

We’ve been supporting our members across key sustainability priorities, including the introduction of a Deposit Return Schemes across the UK, the Climate Action Roadmap, and action to support nature and build resilience.

For examples of recent policy wins on behalf of members from this and other communities, check out our Member Value Statement 2026.

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Sustainability Community

Objectives

Securing a workable DRS which appropriately compensates retailers

Helping members prepare for future packaging changes

Supporting work on human rights across supply chains

Helping members develop nature and biodiversity strategies

Assisting members to reduce carbon emissions through our Climate Action Roadmap

Sustainability Community

Working Groups

Deposit Return Scheme Working Group

Join for insights and updates on the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across the UK in October 2027. Hear directly from Exchange for Change officials and receive support and advice for retailers as the industry prepares for the scheme launch.

Email Naomi to find out more

EUDR Working Group

Join the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Working Group to hear regulatory updates on EUDR enforcement in Northern Ireland and the EU, and discuss upcoming GB deforestation regulations.

Email Lou to find out more

EU PPWR Working Group

Join to hear updates and discuss latest EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (EU PPWR) updates and implications for Northern Ireland and GB. The group is a forum for retailers to share advice and approaches, and resolved unanswered questions.

Email Naomi to find out more

Human Rights Working Group

Join for updates on the latest ethical labour and modern slavery developments. Gain sight of regulatory changes including mandatory human rights due diligence, forced labour import bans, Modern Slavery Act changes, labour exploitation enforcement and more.

Email Lou to find out more

Nature Focus Group

Join the BRC's new Nature Focus Group to hear the latest nature policy, regulation and reporting updates, learn from leading experts and peers, and collaborate with fellow retailers to address shared nature and biodiversity challenges. The group informs the BRC Plan for Nature programme.

Email Lou to find out more

Climate Action Roadmap

Sign up to the Climate Action Roadmap, our industry commitment to net zero by 2040, and engage in our five pathways to decarbonise your footprint, improve energy efficiency, shift to zero carbon logistics and sustainable sourcing, as well as enable low-carbon lifestyles.

Find out more

WEEE and Batteries Working Group

Focus on recycling of electric and electronic products, as well as batteries updates, work of the forthcoming WEEE Regulations review, retail takebacks, DTS.

Email Naomi to find out more

Sustainability Community

Members

The following key roles and the teams that report into them: 

Sustainability and ESG Experts Directors
Policy and Public Affairs Executives
Climate Leads
ESG Advisors
Sustainability Managers
Associate Members

Sustainability

Latest Content

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Sustainability

Upcoming Events

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Don't just take our word for it...

What our members say

The BRC is invaluable in bringing retailers together to discuss crucial topics and then lobby the retailer message to government on our behalf. The BRC’s media presence and focus on promoting the interests of retailers allows us to align on issues impacting the sector.
Giles HurleyCEO, UK & Ireland
A very effective business network that provides insight and coordinates industry opinion.
Nick OrrinCEO
The BRC continues to do an excellent job of supporting the retail sector and its individual members on a wide variety of issues.
Kari RodgersUK Retail Director
Adds a lot to our business, great sounding board, very well connected and able to influence.
Roisin CurrieCEO
A positive and considered voice for our industry, useful learning/ business-focused communities that help our team in their roles, and data insights that help us benchmark our performance.
Peter WoodCEO

Sustainability

Community Managers

Naomi Brandon-Bravo
Head of Sustainability and Supply Chain
Naomi leads on packaging and waste including pEPR, WEEE Regulations and DRS.
Naomi's LinkedIn
Email Naomi
Lou Sherry
Senior Policy Executive - Sustainability
Lou leads on environmental and ethical sourcing policy and the BRC's Plan for Nature programme.
Lou's LinkedIn
Email Lou
Libby Daley
Policy Adviser
Libby leads on climate action including the BRC's Climate Action Roadmap
Libby's LinkedIn
Email Libby