Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues and expect greater responsibility from businesses. Hence, is important to know how to create a sustainable store with energy efficiency, recycling, and circular economy solutions.
Research has shown that 87% of consumers would buy a product from a company because it champions an issue they care about. Therefore, being eco-friendly can help your retail store differentiate itself from the competition.
By reopening your store to the public, you potentially attract customers and pique their interest as a forward-thinking company that proactively addresses environmental concerns in its daily operations.
Changing your business model can be costly, but starting with sustainable retailing doesn’t necessarily mean making large and expensive changes right away. To implement sustainable practices in your store, just look at your point of sale.
By incorporating these practices into your business, you can save money and assure customers that they're making an ecological decision when they frequent your store. Sustainable retail practices benefit everyone. They're better for the environment, good for your customers and advantageous for your business.
How to Create a Sustainable Store with Energy Efficiency, Recycling, and Circular Economy Solutions
Sustainable retail practices are likely to resonate with your customers. 62% of Generation Z prefers to buy sustainable brands, and 73% of Millennials will pay for sustainable products. Here are some small changes a retail store can make to have a significant impact on the Earth and its customers.
1. Be energy efficient
Reducing energy consumption is an important way to make your retail store more eco-friendly. If you have large appliances like refrigerators and ovens, choose models with high energy efficiency ratings.
Meanwhile, replacing small electrical appliances, such as common light bulbs with LED ones, can also significantly affect energy consumption. Use large windows or skylights to introduce natural light into your store and avoid the use of artificial lighting during the day.
Treating your windows will help insulate the indoor environment and reduce the need for heating or cooling.
2. Use clean energy
You might be able to reduce your energy usage, but you might not be able to eliminate it. Therefore, opt to source your energy from clean and sustainable sources.
Instead of subscribing to a fossil fuel energy provider, switch to a solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy provider. Better yet, if you own the building, you can install solar panels to help power your store and reduce your reliance on the electrical grid.
The International Energy Agency estimates that simply improving energy efficiency in buildings could save up to 80% of energy consumption in this sector.
3. Sell sustainable products
As a retail store, the products you sell have a significant impact on the environment. From the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing process, and transportation, to packaging, each product has a unique carbon footprint.
Try to stock only products that are environmentally friendly and ethically produced. Make sure to inquire with your suppliers about the backgrounds of their products. If they can't be transparent and straightforward, it might be wise to source your products elsewhere.
4. Avoid plastic
Single-use plastics generate an enormous amount of waste and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Eliminating plastic from your store is an essential step in being eco-friendly. From packaging to serving utensils, choose reusable options.
You can also encourage your customers to bring their bags. If you must provide bags to your customers, consider purchasing bulk reusable shopping bags that not only avoid the use of plastic bags but also act as advertising for your brand.
5. Provide water refills
Since plastic bottles are one of the major contributors to the plastic pollution crisis, you should do everything possible to reduce their use. Food and beverage stores should provide water refills and offer reusable water bottles for purchase.
Even if you don’t serve food, offering water refills can put you on the map for water refill apps and help increase foot traffic to your retail store.
6. Go digital
You might think that digitization is more relevant to office environments, but there are many opportunities for retail stores to stop using paper.
For example, instead of having paper menus, you could have a menu on a tablet or allow customers to scan a QR code menu with their own smart devices. Instead of printing paper receipts, you can send electronic receipts to your customers via email.
7. Reduce waste
Waste is a significant problem for retail stores, especially food and beverage establishments. Try to eliminate wasted resources by implementing a clear and efficient waste management process.
If you notice many non-biodegradable or non-recyclable items in your waste, you might need to consider how to replace them with more eco-friendly items.
8. Circular economy
The circular economy is the method of turning an item that would otherwise be wasted into something more valuable than before. You can recycle a variety of items, such as glass bottles, old upholstery, and wood.
For example, you can make lighting fixtures from used glass bottles or use old upholstery to make patchwork bags. You can also donate your items to a charity or an artist collective to recycle them.
9. Green decor
When decorating your retail store, an excellent way to save costs and minimize resource use is to buy second-hand furniture and fixtures. Many old and used items are full of character and can help your store stand out.
Whenever possible, incorporate greenery. You could have a decorative wall or some large potted plants. This can help freshen stale air and create a natural and relaxing atmosphere.
10. Clean Naturally
Most cleaning products are toxic and can harm the environment and beneficial insects like bees.
Make sure to choose eco-friendly cleaning products made from natural ingredients that are safe for the environment. As an additional benefit, you can be sure that your staff and customers won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals.
By considering these small measures, you can create a sustainable store with energy efficiency, recycling, and circular economy solutions to reduce your impact, thus making a significant difference in the environment."