The Body Shop has been named as the UK‘s most sustainable retailer, according to the Great Green Sustainability Study, carried out by market research firm Impact.
The retailer took the top spot in the 2023 edition of the bi-annual study, ahead of M&S Home and Waitrose, Impact said.
“We recognise the vital role of retail in driving sustainability forward,” commented Tom Gould, managing director at Impact. “It’s encouraging to see brands like The Body Shop leading the way, showing a strong commitment to sustainable practices.”
Important role
According to the study, more than a fifth (22%) of consumers in the UK believe that retailers are among the three most important players in terms of tackling climate change, while 69% consider supermarkets to play a crucial role in tackling food waste.
Some 49 retail brands were ranked as part of the study, in terms of areas such as social responsibility, environmental friendliness, financial responsibility, and ethics. A total of 4,000 UK consumers took part in the study.
At the bottom end of the list, B&M European Value Retail, The Range and Sports Direct were ranked as the UK’s least sustainable retailers.
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E-commerce brands
E-commerce brands also fare poorly – Amazon places 36th in the list, while Wayfair places 40th. According to the study, some 81% of people claim they know something about Amazon’s sustainability initiatives, but only 52% believe the claims being made.
In addition, more than half (56%) of UK shoppers say it’s harder to know about a store’s green efforts when shopping on the internet than when they visit a store in person.
As Gould adds, “The overall picture highlights a significant need for broader industry change. Sourcing, quality – linked to products being long-lasting – and transparency are all factors that brands need to get right to enhance their standing amongst increasingly conscious consumers and ultimately build trust and loyalty.”
