Inspiring ESG Trends: Europe Retail & e-Commerce (20th April)

Check out this fascinating new economic and environmental impact study from Oliver Wyman: "Is e-Commerce Good for Europe?"

Snapshot of "News you Can Use"

• Albert Heijn (NL) discontinues plastic bags for fruit and vegetables to reduce plastic use by 243 tons/year.
• Aldi (UK) launches package-free items trial in Ulverston Cumbria store to help consumers buy more sustainably. Aldi is also providing customers with free paper bags that are fully recyclable and made of FSC-certified material.
• Boohoo (UK) launches its “UpFront” sustainability strategy, pledging to ensure all materials it uses are “more sustainable” by 2030 and to reduce textile waste going to landfill by 2025 by launching resale and recycling offers.
• Drogerie Markt (DE), in partnership with the Technical University of Berlin (DE), introduces environmental friendly product line called 'Pro Climate' in over 2000 stores and online shops.
• Estée Lauder (WW) joins the Global Shea Alliance to ‘further embed inclusivity and sustainability’ throughout its value chain.
• Kaufland (DE) will expand Nutri-Score labeling to all of its own brands by 2023 to help customers identify a product's nutritional composition at a glance.
• H&M (WW) introduces “Innovation Stories” focusing on sustainable fabrics. The first collection, “Science Story”, uses bio-based yarn derived from castor oil and a plant-based alternative to leather.
• Lidl (DE) tests Eco-Score label in Berlin stores, which rates product’s impact on the climate, biological diversity or resource consumption.
• Marks & Spencer (UK) joins the ‘FutureDotNow’ coalition to accelerate teaching of working-age adults essential digital skills for life and work.
• Tesco (UK) launches a new climate change “manifesto” which includes the reduction of C02emissions, transition to electric transport, tackling of food waste, support for sustainable production of food, and helping customers to eat healthy, sustainable diets.

A note from me: In both my day job at Amazon and through my tutoring work with the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL), I regularly come across interesting and inspiring news about the progress Retail and e-Commerce companies are making on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) journeys. In an effort to share that knowledge, and grow the list of examples that other professional's like myself benefit from having at their finger tips, I thought I'd try out a regular 'news you can use' article here on LinkedIn. I rely on your feedback to tell me whether this is valuable and you would like me to continue producing it. Please comment and also add to this list if there is any positive news you're seeing!