Clean Retail

Introduction

The retail sector is one of the largest commercial sectors in Waitakere City, as well as throughout the country. As many retailers in general operate small businesses their activities and resource use has been difficult to quantify and improve. Some waste can have significant environmental risks. In addition a large amount of the waste at retail stores is packaging, a substantial proportion of which is passed onto consumers.

Green retail guide

This is aimed at retailers who are interested in improving their environmental business practices. The guide covers the principles of: 

• Environmental Purchasing - buying & selling green goods
• Environmental Marketing - marketing green goods
• Environmental Management - going green management

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The Green Retail Guide (Doucument Size 260K)

Clean Retail Programme

This began as a joint initiative between Waitakere City Council, the Ministry for the Environment and St. Lukes Group. The aim of the Clean Retail Programme is to introduce environmental business practices to retailers in Waitakere City, whilst reducing costs and increasing competitiveness.

What is clean retail?

Incorporating environmental practices into the day to day running of retailers is a key goal. To become a member of the programme you must have:

• an environmental policy
• carried out a waste audit
• produced a waste reduction plan

Look for the ‘Clean Retail' Logo. Leading the way is WestCity Shopping Centre - Henderson.

The benefits of clean retail

• Your customers feel good about shopping in your store
• You reduce your impact on the environment
• Your employees enjoy a better working environment
• You improve your companies ‘green’ image
• You save money

Remember
Clean retailers can work with customers and suppliers to reduce the generation of waste and pollution before it is made!

Green goods: buying and selling

For environmental purchasing to be successful it is important to consider the following:

Co-operation with existing suppliers to purchase environmentally improved products

Contact your supplier and inform them of your goals to become an environmentally friendly retailer.

Ask your supplier which steps they are taking to improve their products or processes.

Consider environmentally improved products from new suppliers

To find out about environmentally improved products look for studies carried out on products or environmental shopping guides or Eco-labelling schemes, such as the Telarc Environmental Label.

Or work with new or existing suppliers to consider the following:

Friendly or nasty?
Is the product made from recycled materials?
Is it made from renewable resources or sustainable materials?
Is the product made from ‘non-hazardous’ or ‘non-toxic’ materials?

New Zealand made?
Support local business, especially Waitakere City businesses, and remember that less energy is used for transporting if it’s made in New Zealand.

How green is it?
Does the company which makes the product look for ways to reduce pollution, energy and water use?

The end of life?
What happens to it when it is no longer useful - can it be reused or recycled?

Marketing green goods 

Environmental marketing encourages the sale of environmentally improved products mainly by promotion. 

Help customers buy green goods:

• Ensuring environmental claims on labels can be proven independently, for example the ‘Environmental Choice Label’ or ‘Biogro’ organic label.
• Providing information about environmental impacts associated with a product or the packaging.
• Displaying environmentally friendly products proudly where customers can see them
• Avoiding over packaged goods
• Training your staff to give customers the information people may ask for, e.g. the benefits of the products you sell!

Creating an ‘eco-friendly’ shop surround is also important to encourage customers to take the environmental benefits of products into account. 

When doing this it is important to think about:

• the shop design and
• the positioning of products
• the way in which shop workers deliver information on the products
• the product packaging.

Going green: management

The main strategies for Environmental aim at enhancing environmental awareness within a retail company as well as establishing & communicating an environmental public image. 

Retailers who green up their businesses

Produce a company Environmental Plan to cut down wastage and hazardous materials from products. They provide information about products and processes. They look for opportunities to make changes, for example: 

• Committing to the goals of 'Clean Retail'
• Developing an Environmental Policy and
• Gathering Information
• Choosing the changes you want to make and developing a plan 
• Making the changes; 
• Reviewing the results 
• Regularly informing employees and the public of your progress. 

What those big words really mean

For more infomation about clean retail email us or contact us.