英國考慮倫理/環保的零售產業對策

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues have risen rapidly up the political and social agenda as people become aware that energy-intensive lifestyles carry a high environmental cost. The UK' s leading retail companies are in a hugely influential position to shape the industry' s response because around 30 companies and retail groups account for half of all retail sales in the UK.

Stark warnings from the scientific community that the Earth' s climatic stability is being affected by man-made causes, especially consumption of fossil fuels, are now beginning to trigger a reaction from individuals, pressure groups, businesses and politicians. Leading retailers are playing their part either by introducing measures aimed at reducing environmental impact but also by selling greener products that help people reduce their impact on the environment.

The agenda is a broad one and covers:

• Ingredients and use of raw materials in what they sell
• How what they sell is grown or made and the conditions those producing it work under
• How it is shipped and how far it is shipped
• The energy costs of UK distribution networks
• The energy costs of the fabric of the stores they build and operate
• How products are packed and what happens to waste packaging
• How the item is disposed of at the end of its life

This reports focuses on the response businesses in the retail industry have already made, or are intending to make, on both environmental and ethical issues. By gauging consumer opinion on these issues the report assesses whether the measures retailers are taking, or are formulating are appropriate and consistent with consumer thinking and whether they are likely to positively influence consumer behaviour in future.

Table of Contents

• Issues in the Market
• Main issues addressed:
• Key themes:
• Definition
• Retail Sales data
• Abbreviations
• Insights and Opportunities
• Market in Brief
• Overview
• Retailers have an important contribution to make to a more sustainable future
• Industry insights
• Pressure for change building and retailers have to respond
• Ethical labelling standards desirable but some way off
• Developing trust not competitive advantage
• Commercial considerations -- greater efficiency and less waste enhances profitability
• Retailers accept responsibility for reducing packaging waste
• Conclusion -- raising awareness and company response profile through measured communications
• Broader market environment
• Negative factors
• Positive factors
• Internal market environment
• Negative factors
• Positive factors
• Retailers' targets, disclosure and performance
• Disclosure
• Performance
  • Figure 1: Carbon dioxide emission of leading retail companies, 2005/06
  • Figure 2: Total waste produced by leading retail companies, 2005/06
• Targets
• The importance of ethical and environmental issues to consumers
• Majority of consumers attach some importance to these issues so retailers must act
• Retailers with strongest appeal to ethically aware shoppers
• A third of adults do not attach any importance to these issues and can be targeted through enlightened self-interest
• Retailers needing to lead customers to a greener future
• Conclusions -- it' s time to act
• Which retailers do consumers trust?
• Absolute levels of trust are low
• Food retailers trusted by more of their customers than non-food retailers
• Sainsbury' s and Marks & Spencer can leverage trust among ABs that Tesco doesn' t have
• Conclusion -- retailers likely to have to do more in future to earn and retain trust
• What do people think and how do they behave?
• Consumers not seeing beyond commercial motives
• Proof of ethical standards and labelling required
• Conclusion -- greater transparency and more communication required in future
• Focus on food -- what do people think and how do they behave?
• Can the strong sentiment in favour of UK and local produce be satisfied?
• Unsatisfied demand for Fairtrade
• Strong requirement for food miles information
• Conclusion -- positive sentiment for UK producers provides grounds for change
• What are people' s perceptions of packaging and are they proactive recyclers?
• Strong consumer support for recycling
• Onus on retailers to simplify packaging to aid recycling
• Onus on retailers to reduce packaging -- but also to explain why they use the packaging they do
• Conclusion -- retailers need to demonstrate they are taking action
• Industry Insights
• Key points, implications and conclusions
• Pressure for change building and retailers have to respond
• More affluent consumers are a leading force for change
• Adjusting to the low carbon economy -- frantic behind the scenes activity
• Ethical labelling standards desirable but some way off
• Developing trust not competitive advantage
• Commercial considerations -- greater efficiency and less waste enhances profitability
• Retailers accept responsibility for reducing waste
• Conclusion -- raising awareness and company response profile through measured communications
• Pressures for change
• Consumers receptive to green and ethical initiatives
• People' s views only driving some aspects of change
• Retailers are ahead of government in many aspects of change
• Government needs to set standards to drive change
• But, government does not always set the right agenda
• Who is changing and how quickly?
• Better off consumers are early adopters but everyone else is following
• Adjusting to the low carbon economy
• Setting base lines and measuring performance
• Change can be driven by cost savings
• Analysis of downstream factors becoming important
• The ethical dimension
• Ensuring high ethical standards
• The case for publicising standards to consumers
• Ethical labelling
• Trust and competitive advantage
• Ethical and environmental issues not primarily viewed as a source of competitive advantage
• Developing trust is of paramount importance
• Marks & Spencer -- under scrutiny to achieve its targets
• Commercial considerations
• Pursuing the profit principle and reducing environmental impact
• Some companies keeping too low a profile
• Packaging and waste reduction
• Raising recycling levels requires investment in infrastructure
• Consumer acceptance of less wasteful packaging expected to be high
• Transit packaging -- a major target for minimisation
• Store collection of waste not practical
• No potential for returnable or refillable containers
• Broader Market Environment
• Negative factors
• Positive factors
• Climate change -- what' s it all about?
• Evidence suggests dramatic changes ahead
• The Stern Review -- recommendations for action
• What it means for the retail industry
• What it means for consumers
• Consumers and climate change
• Energy intensive lifestyles are a key contributor to climate change
• Household energy consumption -- heating
• Household energy consumption -- appliances on standby
• Car travel
• Air travel
• Tackling the issues
• Draft Climate Change Bill published in March 2007
• What the Bill didn' t do
• Waste management policy -- published in May 2007
• Measuring impact -- KPIs and standardised reporting requirements
• Comparative performance
• Going carbon neutral -- what' s involved?
• Emissions trading -- how does it work?
• Pros
• Cons
• Carbon offsetting -- how does it work?
• Pros
• Cons
• Shortage of renewable energy generation capacity
• Switching to biofuels
• Getting rid of waste
• Waste management
• Packaging minimisation
• Post consumer waste
• Alternatives to landfill for non-recyclable waste
• Ethical issues -- relatively little government intervention
• Companies can decide
• Internal Market Environment
• Negative factors
• Positive factors
• Major retailers have high profile
• Retailers engaged in sourcing and supplying fmcg are at the top of the supply chain
• But in a competitive market consumer demand shapes what retailers do
• Campaign groups scrutinise retailers closely
• Tackling emissions
• Store-based retailing and product distribution consume energy and generate emissions
• Emissions from store operation and distribution
• Highest and lowest emissions
  • Figure 3: Carbon dioxide emission of leading retail companies, 2005/06
• Tackling waste
• Comparative data show wide variations in waste relative to sales
  • Figure 4: Total waste produced by leading retail companies, 2005/06
• Recycling rates
• Zero landfill targets
• Designing waste out of the business to business loop
• Reducing consumer waste
• The carrier bag issue
• Ethical stance under scrutiny
• Ethical standards cannot be ignored for lower prices
• Social welfare of workers in the supply chain has to be considered
• Context extends to UK workers
• Ethics of animal welfare in food production and product testing under scrutiny
• Greener and ethical products a growing market
• The market for greener and ethical products
• Organic food market growing strongly
• Fairtrade food nearly quadrupled in same period
• New retailing opportunities...
• ...but also pitfalls
• Carbon labelling
• Home shopping -- a greener alternative?
• Pros
• Cons
• Who' s Innovating
• Market in Context -- Ethical and Green Strategies in Food Retailing
• Tesco
• Assessment
• Key features of environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
• Figure 5: Tesco carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy use
  • Figure 6: Tesco energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• J Sainsbury
• Assessment
• Key features of environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 7: J Sainsbury carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy use
• Waste management
• Figure 8: J Sainsbury waste, 2003/04-2005/06
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Asda
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Morrisons
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
• Energy consumption
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Somerfield
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Marks & Spencer
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions (relates to group not just food)
  • Figure 9: Marks & Spencer carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption (relates to group not just food)
• Waste (relates to group not just food)
• Plan A -- the blueprint for the future
• Key initiatives and performance indicators cover five areas:
• Recent food category specific initiatives
• Ethical sourcing (food category specific)
• Operations and performance
• Waitrose
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 10: Waitrose carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption
  • Figure 11: Waitrose energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
  • Figure 12: Waitrose waste, 2003/04-2005/06
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Co-operative Group
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 13: Co-operative Group carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption
  • Figure 14: Co-operative Group energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Iceland
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Aldi
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Thresher
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Other initiative takers in the category
• Market in Context -- Ethical and Green Strategies in Non-food Retailing
• Clothing and department stores
• Marks & Spencer
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions (relates to group not just clothing)
  • Figure 15: Marks & Spencer carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption (relates to group not just clothing)
• Waste (relates to group not just clothing)
• Plan A -- the blueprint for the future
• Key initiatives and performance indicators cover five areas:
• Recent clothing-specific initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• John Lewis
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 16: John Lewis co2 emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption
  • Figure 17: John Lewis energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
  • Figure 18: John Lewis waste, 2003/04-2005/06
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Debenhams
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Next
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 19: Next carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption
  • Figure 20: Next energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Primark
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Matalan
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Arcadia Group
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Littlewoods Shop Direct Group
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Other initiative takers in the category
• Mixed goods and variety stores
• Home Retail Group -- Argos and Homebase
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions and energy consumption
• Waste management
  • Figure 21: Home Retail Group waste, 2003/04-2005/06
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Woolworths
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Wilkinsons
• Assessment
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Other initiative takers in the category
• Household goods retailers
• DSG International
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions and energy consumption
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance -- UK & Ireland Electricals Division
• Operations and performance -- PC World
• Operations and performance -- New business division
• Comet -- Kesa Electricals
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• B&Q -- Kingfisher
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions and energy consumption
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• IKEA
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions and energy consumption
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Other initiative takers in the category
• Other non-food retailers
• Alliance Boots
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions
  • Figure 22: Boots carbon dioxide emissions, 2003/04-2005/06
• Energy consumption
  • Figure 23: Boots energy consumption, 2003/04-2005/06
• Waste management
  • Figure 24: Boots waste disposed of, 2003/04-2005/06
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Superdrug/Savers and The Perfume Shop -- AS Watson
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance -- Superdrug
• Operations and performance -- Savers
• Operations and performance -- The Perfume Shop
• WH Smith
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions and energy consumption
• Figure 25: WH Smith energy consumption, 2004-06
• Waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Sports Direct
• Assessment
• Key features of its environmental and ethical impact
• CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste management
• Recent initiatives
• Ethical sourcing
• Operations and performance
• Other initiative takers in the category
• The Importance of Ethical and Environmental Issues to Consumers
• Key findings
• Majority of consumers attach some importance to these issues so retailers must act
• A fifth of adults see these issues as being very important and will be very receptive to initiatives
• A third of adults do not attach any importance to these issues and can be targeted through enlightened self-interest
• Middle ground encompasses a broad range of people and requires a general approach
• Self-interest versus social conscience
• Conclusions -- it' s time to act
• Ethical and green issues important to a majority of respondents
• Figure 26: Importance attached to ethical and environmental issues when shopping, March 2007
• Bias towards women and older people among those giving a Very Important rating
• Some less affluent consumers rate these issues as Very Important
• Guardian most favoured reading by those in the Very Important group
• Tesco leading customers rather than being driven by them
• Waitrose and Marks & Spencer attract those in Very Important group
• Least interested need motivating
• "Do I look bovvered?"
• Less affluent have other priorities
• Popular tabloid readers need awakening
• Iceland and Morrisons shoppers need motivating
• The Importance of Ethical and Environmental Issues to Consumers -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 27: Those attaching importance to ethical and environmental issues when shopping, by socio-demographic group, March 2007
  • Figure 28: Those not attaching importance to ethical and environmental issues when shopping, by socio-demographic groups, March 2007
• Which Retailers Do Consumers Trust?
• Key findings:
• Absolute levels of trust are low
• Tesco lagging behind on trust
• Food retailers trusted by more of their customers than non-food retailers
• Sainsbury' s and Marks & Spencer can leverage trust among ABs that Tesco doesn' t have
• Tesco' s position based on appeal to less affluent, less concerned shoppers
• Asda and Morrisons also reliant on less affluent, less concerned shoppers
• Consumers may want to transfer responsibility to retailers
• Conclusion -- retailers likely to have to do more in future to earn and retain trust
• Who do consumers trust?
  • Figure 29: Consumer trust in retailers, March 2007
  • Figure 30: Consumer trust in retailers compared to usage, March 2007
• Tesco winning hearts and minds of younger consumers
• Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury' s doing best among ABs
• Asda and Morrisons achieve much lower levels of trust
• Is Boots doing enough to get its message across?
• John Lewis not reaching as many ABs as it should
• IKEA also struggling to be heard
• Sceptics strongly in evidence
• A fifth of adults have doubts about retailers
• Increased pressure to come clean
• Which Retailers Do Consumers Trust? -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 31: Most trusted retailers, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 32: Other trusted retailers, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
• What Do People Think and How Do They Behave?
• Key findings:
• Consumers not seeing beyond commercial motives
• Shifting responsibility from consumers to retailers
• Proof of ethical standards and labelling required
• Use of higher cost production broadly acceptable if it reduces emissions
• Consumers very receptive to media coverage
• Pace of change likely to gather momentum in future
• Low prices before principles
• Conclusion -- greater transparency and more communication required in future
• Consumers have high expectations of retailers on these issues
  • Figure 33: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, March 2007
• Profits first, planet second
• Hopes and expectations
• Wear it with pride!
• Carbon labelling needed before judgements on local sourcing can be made
• Media a positive force for change
• Sleepers
• Low prices matter more
• Enlightened self-interest -- will make changes to save money
• What Do People Think and How Do They Behave? -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 34: Most widely held views about ethical and environmental issues, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 35: Other views about ethical and environmental issues, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 36: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, by retailer shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 37: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, by retailer shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 38: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, by retailer shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 39: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, by retailer shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 40: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues, by retailer shopped, March 2007
• Focus on Food -- What Do People Think and How Do They Behave?
• Key findings
• Can the strong sentiment in favour of UK and local produce be satisfied?
• Unsatisfied demand for Fairtrade
• Strong requirement for food miles information
• Modest levels of support for independent food stores
• Conclusion -- positive sentiment for UK producers provides grounds for change
• Local issues at the forefront of consumer thinking
  • Figure 41: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues when shopping for food, March 2007
• Widespread unfulfilled demand for local food
• Broad based consumer support for UK production
• Fairtrade products attract widespread support
• Food miles information widely sought after
• Independent local food stores
• A fifth of people actively avoid products that are perceived as having high food miles
• Convenience does not always count for everything
• Focus on Food -- What Do People Think and How Do They Behave? -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 42: Most widely held views about ethical and environmental issues when shopping for food, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 43: Other views about ethical and environmental issues, when shopping for food, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 44: Consumer attitudes to ethical and environmental issues when shopping for food, by rretailer shopped, March 2007
• What Are People' s Perceptions of Packaging and Are They Proactive Recyclers?
• Key findings
• Strong consumer support for recycling
• Onus on retailers to simplify packaging to aid recycling
• Onus on retailers to reduce packaging -- but also to explain why they use the packaging they do
• Limited amount of direct action likely
• Conclusion -- retailers need to demonstrate they are taking action
• Consumers expecting more help and action from retailers
  • Figure 45: Consumer attitudes to packaging and recycling, March 2007
• Onus on retailers to reduce packaging used
• Onus on retailers to think of recycling when specifying packaging materials
• Packaging sceptics influencing attitudes
• Biodegradability has widespread support
• Modest enthusiasm for returning packaging to stores
• Returnables and refillables unlikely to be viable
• What Are People' s Perceptions of Packaging and Are They Proactive Recyclers? -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 46: Most widely held views about packaging and recycling, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 47: Other views about packaging and recycling, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 48: Consumer attitudes to packaging and recycling, by store shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 49: Consumer attitudes to packaging and recycling, by store shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 50: Consumer attitudes to Packaging and recycling, by store shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 51: Consumer attitudes to Packaging and recycling, by store shopped, March 2007
  • Figure 52: Consumer attitudes to Packaging and recycling, by store shopped, March 2007
• Consumer Insight -- Typology Analysis Identifies the Most and Least Aware and Active Consumers
• Key findings
• A third of people are ethically aware
• Over four in ten people are apathetic to these issues
• Conclusion -- customer communication is key
• Consumer typologies
• Group 1: Ethically aware and motivated (idealistic) -- 35% of respondents
• What do they think?
• Who are they?
• Why are they important?
• Group 2: Unconcerned -- 41% of respondents
• What do they think?
• Who are they?
• Why are they important?
• Group 3: Ethically aware but realistic (practical) -- 24% of respondents
• What do they think?
• Who are they?
• Why are they important?
• Which retailers have the greenest and most ethical shoppers?
• Consumer Insight -- Typology Analysis Identifies the Most and Least Aware and Active Consumers -- Detailed Consumer Demographics
  • Figure 53: Consumer typologies, by attitudinal statements, March 2007
  • Figure 54: Consumer typologies, by demographic sub-group, March 2007
  • Figure 55: Consumer typologies, by stores used, March 2007