Innovation in the UK Retail Sector - Nesta

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Recommendation 3: Promote innovation in sustainability. Innovation in the UK Retail Sector Desired outcomes: The reduction of risk for retailers innovating in sustainability through the application of a meaningful sustainability framework, hard measures of performance against this framework, and prioritisation of funding support and advice to the retail sector to stimulate appropriate innovation. Background: A small number of very large retailers, together with a number of smaller speciality businesses with strong ethical values, have developed relatively clear strategies in relation to sustainability which have resulted in innovative products, processes as well as wider, more intangible innovation. However, the remainder of the sector struggles to come to terms with the challenge largely because of the cacophony of conflicting advice and guidance from a wide variety of sources. Evidence: The lack of widespread retail support for the work of organisations as varied as the Carbon Trust and the Resource Efficiency KTN, alongside disjointed, often populist (and potentially ineffective) innovation in sustainability. Analysis: Eight specific measures which might act as stimuli for innovation in sustainability have been identified by the sector: • Support mechanisms 3.1 VAT reductions to stimulate green product innovation (work at the European level required to reduce VAT in relation to such products as energy efficient light bulbs & DIY materials) 3.2 Business rate relief on energy efficient buildings (There is disagreement on the extent to which rates relief might stimulate innovation. This should be further investigated for retailers in the context of the business requirement to display Energy Performance Certificates) 3.3 Encourage development of shared waste facilities by SMEs (Most attention has focused on the largest retail firms. Innovative solutions are required to ensure higher recycling rates amongst the UK’s 167,000 smaller retail enterprises) • Reduction of barriers 3.4 Faster and easier planning regimes for sustainable technologies relevant to retailing (for example, the need to distinguish between applications for microwind projects and large scale wind turbine schemes) 3.5 Foster a standards-based framework to manage sustainability and reduce uncertainty and risk (for example, in relation to accounting standards) 3.6 Work towards identifying sustainability metrics and require retailers to publicly report on their achievement of these (for example within Social Responsibility paragraphs of annual reports) • Foster skills 3.7 Build environmental awareness amongst retail staff (through incentivising or providing appropriate training and development) 3.8 Low carbon technology skills to support growth in retail initiatives (for example, increasing the number of trained technicians available to work on low-carbon technology projects) Page 68
Conclusion/Next Steps: Innovation in the UK Retail Sector The creative and entrepreneurial zeal of the retail sector is perfectly capable of adapting its talents to innovation in sustainability, given well-structured, consistent and carefully targeted advice and support from Government and related agencies and partners, which include the Resource Efficiency KTN, the Carbon Trust, WRAP and the Forum for the Future. The risks of inaction include the perpetuation of isolated, piecemeal and potentially ineffective actions by firms which hampers the sector’s progress towards sustainability targets. Government should work with the retail sector in identifying and disseminating priorities for innovation in sustainability. This should occur through the development of a meaningful framework for action, including the provision of evidence for the effectiveness of funding incentives, priorities for barrier reduction and any skills shortages or gaps which can be addressed at the national or regional level. Page 69
Page 1 and 2:
Report for NESTA December 2007 Inno
Page 3 and 4:
Contents Innovation in the UK Retai
Page 5 and 6:
Innovation in the UK Retail Sector
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
2. The nature and contribution of r
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18: Innovation in the UK Retail Sector
Page 23 and 24: v. Retailers’ reverse innovation
Page 41 and 42: Vignette 5.3: Currys customer recyc
Page 43 and 44: 6. What are the barriers to retail
Page 47 and 48: 7. What are the measures of retail
Page 49 and 50: . Types of Measures Innovation in t
Page 65 and 66: . Promoting innovation in sustainab
Page 67: Innovation in the UK Retail Sector
Page 73 and 74: Recommendation 4: Innovation in the
Page 77 and 78: Appendix 1 Research Methodology 350
show all

Innovation in the UK Retail Sector - Nesta

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?