sustainability

Birkenstock is voted most animal-friendly shoe company

PETA USA youth organization honors Germany's largest shoe manufacturer for its commitment to producing fashion without animal components

Birkenstock has received the peta2 Libby Award "Most Vegan-Friendly Shoe Company 2017. "With this award, which is highly regarded throughout the global vegan community, the youth organization of Peta USA is honoring Germany's largest ...

Dunkin’ Donuts to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain

New double-walled paper cups to phase into U.S. restaurants beginning spring 2018

As part of its commitment to serve both people and the planet responsibly, Dunkin’ Donuts announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018, with a targeted completion date of 2020. In ...

Carrefour signs the 2018 French Business Climate Pledge

Investing in low CO2-emitting technologies and reducing energy consumption

Carrefour’s commitments: Reduce the CO2 emissions generated by its stores throughout the world by 40 percent between now and 2025 (compared with 2010 levels), and by -70 percebt by 2050. It is taking action at two levels: the ...

Sustainable solutions for grocery shopping

Carrefour Belgium invites customers to bring their own bags and reusable boxes when shopping from traditional food counters

In an initiative to provide sustainable solutions and reduce the use of packaging, Carrefour Belgium is inviting Carrefour Hypermarket and Carrefour Market customers to bring their own bulk bags and reusable boxes to package their purchases from ...

Bioclimatic architecture: “The human body is a seismograph”

Only if the customer feels comfortable in the shop, he will spend time there doing his shopping

The need for sustainable architecture is becoming more and more widely recognized. According to Isabella Goldmann, managing partner of the architectural firm Goldmann & Partners, interior design based on the principles of bio-architecture does ...

Parcel lockers: around the clock delivery service

Interview with Gunnar Anger, managing director ParcelLock GmbH on the future of parcel delivery

A successful delivery significantly impacts how customers rate their shopping experience. That’s why new, flexible solutions along the entire supply chain are in great demand. This includes a universally accessible parcel locker system. Gunnar ...

Carrefour announces its first vertical garden at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois hypermarket

A new milestone in developing urban agriculture

Carrefour is committed to urban agriculture and is continuing to open urban gardens located near its stores. In Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, the famous “first hypermarket in France”, which opened in 1963, is breaking new ground by ...

Growth equity fund Scope partners with Happy Plugs

Scope will add a scalable platform supporting sustainable brand growth and presence, further enhancing Happy Plugs' expansion internationally

Happy Plugs (brand for fashion tech creating consumer electronics accessories) announced their partnership with Scope, a growth equity fund. Scope will add a scalable platform supporting sustainable brand growth and presence, further ...

No more needless packaging waste in food retailing

Of washable bags, natural branding and boxes made out of grass

As the first supermarket of its kind, Rewe abolished plastic bags. Numerous other supermarkets followed suit. Now the supermarket chains offer bags made out of paper and cotton as well as reusable shopping bags. The Federal Minister for the ...

Increased focus on sustainable use of chemicals in textile production

UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global safety science leader, hosted 53 attendees at UL’s Sustainability Seminar on “Reducing Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals”.

UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global safety science leader, hosted 53 attendees at UL’s Sustainability Seminar on “Reducing Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals”. The favourable attendance and feedback from the event suggested ...

UL Consumer & Retail Services joins the ZDHC program as official contributor

Vision is a widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry to protect consumers

UL Consumer & Retail Services (CRS) joins the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme and in doing so, supports the Programme’s vision of widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry and best practices in the textile, ...

Ikea completes one of Ohio's largest rooftop solar arrays

Completing the installation is another sustainable step in the progress towards opening the future IKEA Columbus

Ikea announced that the solar panel installation is complete atop its future Columbus store opening Summer 2017. The array is one of the largest solar rooftops in Ohio, just as is the Cincinnati-area one. The Columbus store’s ...

Retailers and manufacturers take responsibility

Retail sector in a great mood to invest

The term “sustainability” increasingly becomes a buzzword. Especially in the retail sector, it is difficult to reach a consensus on what sustainability truly means. Is it referring to the sustainable production of materials, recycling ...

Sustainability: How investments in energy efficiency pay for themselves

Refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, heat recovery or building technology at EuroShop 2017

Energy-efficient solutions offer a high potential to save energy in retail. Many retailers are considering investments in energy-efficient systems because of this. The "Food Tech & Energy Management" dimension not only presents the ...

Carrefour Spain rolls out compressed natural gas trucks in its fleet

Vehicles reduce nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions by up to 99 percent and the level of particles emitted by 95 percent

Carrefour Spain, is incorporating compressed natural gas trucks in its fleet to carry out deliveries of e-commerce orders together with home delivery vans with the same characteristics. These vehicles reduce nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions by up ...

Store Design and Shopfitting at EuroShop 2017

Shopfitters, designers, lighting experts: They all have to work hand in hand to design the ultimate store

Needless to say, this is also always an issue of time, driven by an opening date that’s as early and as much on schedule as possible. Trends are increasingly moving towards customized shopfitting solutions: brands and products are being ...

Shopfitting: "Sustainability is a driving force and not the antithesis of design"

Interview with Dr. Christian Hilz, Managing Director at TREND-Store on customer loyalty resulting from sustainable actions

His genuine enthusiasm for responsible shopfitting is palpable. Dr. Christian Hilz of Trend-Store is one of those people who is wholeheartedly facing this tough challenge and willing to pass his knowledge on to others. For him, the key to ...

Kesko now purchases 100 percent renewable electricity

K-Group also increases own renewable energy production

Since the beginning of 2017, all electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland is renewable. In 2017, the amount of electricity purchased by Kesko will be approximately 540 GWh. This electricity will be used in K-stores and the K-Group’s other ...

EuroShop 2017: focus on energy efficiency

ECOpark and Eco Forum demonstrate and discuss professional energy management in the retail trade

EuroShop is an important barometer and a worldwide indicator of future developments in the retail trade. When the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre opens its gates for the world's leading trade fair in the retail trade, from 5 to 9 March 2017, ...

Retail industry: act sustainably and talk about it!

“Sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive, they complement each other.“

Major retail chains like Coop and Marks & Spencer are role models in many ways when it comes to sustainable retail. They heap awards and accolades for their responsible projects and approaches. Other retailers should also acknowledge this ...

German businesses focusing on climate protection

More and more businesses interested in providing their own energy needs

German companies are making efforts to protect the climate. The latest trend study from E.ON shows that a majority of companies take the issue of energy conservation seriously. Around 75 percent of the CEOs surveyed indicated that they had ...

Schaeffler presents its strategy "mobility for tomorrow"

Future trends climate change, urbanization, globalization and digitalization as starting point

The demands on mobility are rapidly changing and require new responses. In order to address this challenge, the Executive Board of Schaeffler AG in close coordination with the Supervisory Board and after intensive dialogue with the Group’s ...

Toms: When shopping becomes a good deed

Image gallery of London’s Toms store sustainability commitment

At the trendy TOMS store in London’s Carnaby Street, the core elements of customer-centric store design catch your eye – right along with the feel-good factor. Located in the midst of London whilst featuring plenty of wood and simple ...

Footwear with history: Timberland partners with Thread

New collection of Timberland footwear and bags to feature Thread fabric, made from plastic bottles collected in developing countries

Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland today announced a partnership with responsible fabric manufacturer Thread, furthering both brands' longstanding commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Crafted from plastic ...

Eco-friendly store brands are a 'win-win-win situation'

Research shows higher prices plus ethical marketing improve sales

Private label brands (PLBs), like Costco’s Kirkland or Walmart’s Great Value,represent 17 per cent of total sales in the United States, growing by about 13 per cent annually. That’s big business for retailers, and it could be ...

A statement for sustainability

New IKEA building in Kaarst is environmentally friendly pilot project

Furniture retailer IKEA launches a worldwide unique pilot project in Germany: Under the motto "More Sustainable Store" the new IKEA furniture store in Kaarst in North Rhine-Westphalia Kaarst will unite all aspects of the company's ...

Asheville Market celebrates new retailer openings

Strong focus on sustainability – plus some fashion, good food and soul revitalization thrown in as well

New retailers abound this fall at Asheville Market, with a strong focus on sustainability – plus some fashion, good food and soul revitalization thrown in as well. The center's owner, Edens, has worked to bring a new and diverse mix of ...

Ingenious design, Green packaging

Smart package design at FachPack 2015

Organized by bayern design, the Forum for Design Knowledge and a speech series at the PackBox will complement the FachPack 2015 trade fair taking place from September 29 to October 1 on the Nuremberg fairgrounds. Nuremberg, Germany. At bayern ...

Kimberly-Clark Corporation releases annual Sustainability Report

The 2014 Sustainability Report introduces the framework for the company's new 2022 platform

Kimberly-Clark Corporation published its annual report on sustainability, providing a comprehensive overview of the company's sustainability efforts, focusing on case studies that highlight social and environmental progress throughout the ...

Europe's first chain of vegan shoe stores opens EU-wide online shop

Vegans and ethical consumers from outside Germany can now visit avesu's online shop

German vegan and ethical shoes retailer, avesu opened its new dedicated online shop for customers across the EU. Vegans and ethical consumers from outside Germany can now visit www.avesu.eu to order from avesu’s carefully selected and ...

What shop design can look like: Zara in Hamburg

Flagshipstore reopened with spacious and sustainable design

Here you could even shake a leg in your new summer dress: In Zara's reopened store at Mönckebergstraße in Hamburg, Germany, spacious corridors, with elegant, unobtrusive elements, catch the eye. Clear structures, simple lighting ...

Technologies with potential to shift energy use in buildings

Mark Menzer, Danfoss North America, moderated executive dialogue session during 2015 Energy Efficiency Global Forum

For the eighth consecutive year, Danfoss, a leading manufacturer of high efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, industrial and water systems, was a sponsor of the Alliance ...

"You don’t have to be instantly 100 percent green"

Retail lags behind when it comes to sustainable packaging. Interview with Peter Désilets, pacoon AG

German retailers are scaredy cats – at least when it pertains to sustainable packaging concepts. The fact that they could save up to 20 percent in costs by using them and that they are passing up an immense image improvement, barely seems to ...

France takes action against wasting food in retail

Large supermarkets are no longer allowed to throw away unsold food

Ambitious goals: The French government is aiming to reduce waste of food by 50 percent until 2025. This is why supermarkets are no longer allowed to just throw away unsold food. The retailers themselves are criticizing that a new law affects the ...

40 percent of consumers prefer shopping with green packaging

Environmentally friendly packaging and green supply chain practices are important to most online shoppers

Environmentally friendly packaging and green supply chain practices are important to most online shoppers, according to a new study from Dotcom Distribution, a provider of fulfillment and logistics services for both emerging and established ...

"As a grocery retailer, we work on lean logistical processes every day"

Lean and Green Award winner Lidl explains its sustainability concept in this interview with iXtenso

Sustainability and climate protection are subjects that ultimately also pertain to logistics. Recently, GS1 Germany presented the Lean and Green Award to four companies who plan to reduce their logistics-related CO2 emissions by 20 percent within ...

Robus products verified by LIA Labs

A selection of ROBUS products are the first to receive approval under the LIA Labs Verification Scheme

The LIA Laboratories has announced that a selection of ROBUS products from leading Irish lighting company LED Group Ltd, are the first to receive approval under the LIA Labs Verification Scheme.   LED Group’s ROBUS is Ireland’s ...

Learning programme ‘Social Innovation and Transition in Energy’

KIC InnoEnergy launches a new 4-day course

Stimulating sustainable energy systems requires innovation of societal systems through which human needs such as for energy are being satisfied. The learning module ‘Social Innovation and Transition in Energy’ (SITEP) takes you on a ...

REWE Extends Cooperation with IFCO in Germany

The agreement also covers the introduction of the new Black Lift Lock RPCs

IFCO SYSTEMS, the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions, has extended its cooperation agreement with the REWE Group ahead of schedule. Within the scope of the agreement, IFCO will provide the REWE supermarkets and PENNY ...

„We want to pay attention to our customers not to our cardboard”

Edeka Bruns disposes of packaging with the AutoLoadBaler

Around 40 tons of cardboard are yearly disposed by Edeka Bruns in Friedrichsfehn, Oldenburg, with the AutoLoadBaler. The collection and the disposal of the cardboard is a part of the daily business. Previously, the cardboard was collected on ...

NRA: Expert advice and money-saving tips

The National Restaurant Association has issued a new report focused on sustainability best practices for the foodservice industry. Created by the NRA’s Conserve sustainability program, the report, “Spotlight on Sustainability: Expert ...