Lifestyles

What is the Lifestyles Pathway?

The UK retail industry is operated by a large and dynamic workforce, and provides goods and services to an entire population of consumers. The products customers choose, how they use them, and what they do with them when they are no longer needed, all have a fundamental impact on the carbon footprint of every customer, and the retail industry.

As customers start to respond to the climate emergency, shopping preferences and needs are changing. Customers are paying more attention to environmental impacts, demanding more transparency, and making lifestyle changes.

The retail industry shapes the choices available to customers and is sophisticated in its communication with and influence on customers. Retailers can play a central role in helping people make the transition to low carbon lifestyles.

Retailers can support employee and public behavioural change by providing climate information and guidance, and low-carbon products and services that help people to live low carbon lifestyles. A circular economy, healthy diets, and sustainable transport are all needed for the transition to net zero. Retailers can help customers cut their carbon emissions together with their shopping and energy bills.

On a global basis, household consumption accounts for almost three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions.