British businesses have the opportunity to lead the world on decarbonisation, according to comments by Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Kerry McCarthy MP. Speaking at the BRC’s Climate Action Roadmap Showcase last night, where six retailers were recognised for their work in taking on the challenges of carbon reduction head on.

 The Showcase recognises some of the best recent retail sustainability initiatives, showing how the industry is delivering on McCarthy’s challenge. Winning entrants spanned the breadth of the industry, from supermarket giants to smaller brands. These initiatives, along with many other case studies submitted to the Showcase, have helped to reduce carbon emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes since 2020.

 Showcase submissions covered five major areas of carbon emission reduction: in supply chains, in transport and logistics, in properties, reducing waste, and changing consumer behaviour. They were judged by experts including those from WWF, WRAP and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

 The winning entries were picked for their ambition and impact. Currys ‘Long Live Your Tech’ (Changing Consumer Behaviour) resulted in 1.7 million items being brought in for repair, and away from landfill. Tesco’s partnership with food-sharing social enterprise, OLIO, has helped redistribute 4,500 tonnes of unsold food (Reducing Waste). And Asda’s new biogas trucks have helped remove 50,000 tonnes of CO₂e from operations (Reducing emissions in transport and logistics).

 Retailers have been taking innovative and bold steps, looking right through parts of their operations and supply chain. Other winning entries were Radley, who took a fresh look at their entire operations, from tanning the leather, to cutting it, to packaging it, in order to reduce waste. Morrisons, who worked with their farmers to find ways of lowering emissions in the production of beef, pork, lamb and eggs (Tackling Carbon Emissions in the Supply Chain). And Screwfix, who almost halved the carbon intensity of hundreds of stores through installing heat pumps, insulation and LED lighting (Driving towards net zero properties).

 The Showcase is taking place during the BRC’s Climate Action Week, which aims to promote and support the Climate Action Roadmap, a pledge by over 80 major retailers to get the industry and its supply chains to Net Zero by 2040. This will be an important part of the wider goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5^oC above pre-industrial levels.

 Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, said:

“The Showcase has given us greater insight into the amazing work being done by the retail industry to cut carbon emissions. But, we still have a long way to go. The Climate Action Roadmap brings together the entire industry, fostering and sharing best practice for the benefit of everyone.

 “While I wish to congratulate all our winning entries, this is only the beginning of what is needed. With retail responsible for 30% of all household greenhouse gas emissions, the responsibility on the industry, and our opportunity to make a difference are enormous. Unless we act quickly and decisively, the climate crisis will not be averted.”

 Kerry McCarthy MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Climate Change, said:

“British businesses and industries have the opportunity to lead the world on decarbonisation and benefit from the low-cost green technologies of the future. The British Retail Consortium's Climate Action Roadmap is a great example of ambitious climate leadership and I hope it will inspire other industries to create and follow their own carbon reduction roadmaps.

 “Labour will work closely with businesses to reduce their emissions, lower their bills and support them to adopt new green technologies."

 Summary of winning entries (links provide greater detail on each initiative)

 Retailer

Commended Entries were: