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RLI RETAIL INSIGHT

Growing a Greener

Landscape in Retail

For our Retail Insight this month, Simon
Layton, Centre Director for Trafford Centre
takes some time out of his day job as he puts
conscious consumerism and the environmental
change in retail under the microscope.

Trafford Centre, Manchester, UK

hat does the future of retail look like enhance the overall customer experience, emissions, energy consumption and waste. Like
Win a climate of conscious consumerism foster loyalty and attract more socially so many high street retailers, shopping centres
and environmental urgency? The operation, conscious shoppers. are taking action, upgrading energy efficiency
management and design of shopping centres Trafford Centre’s ESG strategy took through the installation of solar power, LED
have never been so intensely in the spotlight. 18 months to develop. It is a detailed and lighting and upgrading heating and ventilation
Sustainability in retail involves a thorough policy focused on achieving systems.
comprehensive approach to minimising carbon widespread positive environmental and social Green lease schemes are a good place
emissions and promoting ethical practices, change, bringing colleagues, tenants and the to start too. The initiative aims to integrate
while ensuring long-term viability. To this end, local community together. environmental considerations into tenant
leading retail and leisure destinations need agreements, promoting sustainable practices
to become champions of sustainability and throughout the shopping centre. These are
innovation to continue evolving in line with all measures to reduce carbon footprint, while
customer habits. creating inviting spaces for tenants and visitors.
Shopping centres cover vast areas and It was recently announced that 2024 was
house a diverse range of stores, restaurants the fourth hottest year on record for UK, so
and entertainment options. Given the scale, as we continue to face hotter, dryer climates AD
shopping centres play a critical role in shaping and less predictable rainfall, smart water-
the retail landscape and must lead by example saving solutions and management need to be
when it comes to sustainability. By integrating incorporated into centres’ ESG strategies.
sustainable design, energy-efficient systems and Waste management must also be addressed
environmentally friendly practices, shopping through robust recycling schemes.
centres can set the standard for the entire BY EMBRACING CHANGE AND By engaging local communities and tapping
industry. THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED into collective intelligence, centres can better
We all know that shoppers are savvy, so WITH CHANGE, SHOPPING prioritise and facilitate sustainable change. For
while the cost-of-living crisis and inflation rates CENTRES CAN REDEFINE example, by hosting workshops and educational
are not seeing positive changes, consumers THEMSELVES AS ENVIRONMENTAL campaigns, centres can inspire their tenants and
are still willing to spend more on products COLLABORATORS, SETTING DOWN visitors alike.
and in stores and shopping centres that reflect THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR Retailers are increasingly looking for
their sustainable values. In fact, a recent study GENERATIONS TO COME.” commercial space that matches their own
by PwC showed that consumers are willing Simon Layton, sustainable goals. It is inevitable then, that
to spend 9.7 per cent more on sustainably Centre Director, Trafford Centre shopping centres with green credentials are
produced or sourced products. winning in the race to attract the most desirable
Sustainability has certainly become a tenants, which obviously has mutual benefits.
buzzword in the retail industry, with many The brand’s pioneering ESG programme, Environmental consciousness is at the
brands and shopping centres using it as a called ‘For Our Future’, has seen the centre forefront of everybody’s minds and shopping
selling point. However, despite the widespread reduce the direct greenhouse gas emissions of centres need to align with global sustainable
discussion, few are truly taking meaningful the spaces it controls and aims to achieve Net goals. The concept of ESG is becoming a ‘must-
action or putting concrete measures into place. Zero Carbon in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have’ rather than a ‘nice-to-have’. In fact it has
Shopping centres must integrate by 2030. Added to that, Trafford Centre has become a matter of corporate responsibility.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) just been awarded a Gold ModeScore rating for Investors and consumers are placing growing
plans into every facet of their operations, its commitment to accessible and sustainable pressure on businesses to adopt eco-friendly
from management practices to daily functions. travel for all who visit and work at the centre, practices across the board.
Consumers are not only seeking quality which is an industry first for such a large-scale By embracing change and the challenges
products and services, but also want to engage retail destination. associated with change, shopping centres
with businesses that align with their values. By Shopping centres need to collectively can redefine themselves as environmental
prioritising sustainability, social responsibility set the bar high by integrating cutting-edge collaborators, setting down the building blocks
and ethical governance, shopping centres can technologies to reduce greenhouse gas for generations to come.

34 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2025