[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Sustainability trends impacting retail in 2023","text":"

Here’s our breakdown of some of the biggest sustainability trends impacting retail in 2023:<\/p>

  1. Greater transparency, increased regulation<\/li>
  2. Focus on improving delivery to reduce the carbon footprint<\/li>
  3. Rise of the circular economy<\/li>
  4. Eco-friendly, fair workplaces<\/li>
  5. Ethical supply chain<\/li>
  6. Growing role of data and AI in sustainability efforts<\/li>
  7. Reliance on cloud technology<\/li> <\/ol>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","about":["https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q497743","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q219416","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diversity,_equity,_and_inclusion","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q109801645","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q126793#",{"@type":"Thing","name":"Supply chain","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_chain"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"supply chain","@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q1824206"},{"@type":"Thing","name":" 2023 Sustainability trends","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#Thing"}],"description":"Top sustainability trends 2023 include greater transparency, the circular economy, and ethical supply chains.","articleBody":"Sustainability has become a top priority for many consumers, and retailers are responding. A Deloitte report showed that 55% of consumers surveyed recently bought a sustainable product or service. In response to growing demand for eco-friendly products, retailers are trying to reduce their impact on the environment. They\u2019re working to combat the effects of climate change, reduce waste, and eliminate their carbon footprint. The sustainability trends for 2023 go beyond eco-friendliness, however. They also include measures aimed at improving working conditions and employee well-being. In order to meet these sweeping goals, companies rely on data and technology. Sustainability trends 2023 reshaping retail The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as \u201cmeeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. \u201dIn other words, it\u2019s a way to preserve resources, care about the environment, and build a better, safer reality for all. Here\u2019s our breakdown of some of the biggest sustainability trends impacting retail in 2023:Greater transparency, increased regulation Focus on improving delivery to reduce the carbon footprint Rise of the circular economy Eco-friendly, fair workplaces Ethical supply chain Growing role of data and AI in sustainability efforts Reliance on cloud technology1. Shining a light on sustainability practices As a result of growing customer interest in how products are manufactured, brands are striving to become more transparent. This applies to not only materials used but also working conditions and animal welfare practices. To monitor the process, Germany has passed the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which, starting next year, will enforce the implementation of \u201cgreener\u201d supply chain practices. However, Germany isn\u2019t the only country to have introduced such measures. McKinsey has surveyed 30 countries worldwide and found that 28 of them set up extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, ensuring that manufacturers make their businesses more sustainable. Moreover, 75% of these countries either have implemented or are working to impose penalties for regulatory noncompliance.2. Better delivery, fewer emissions As online sales soared during the pandemic, so did carbon emissions from delivery vehicles. This growth has pushed industry leaders to search for more environmental delivery methods, making it a top sustainability trend in 2023.To make the last mile \u2013 the final stage of the shipping and delivery process \u2013 more ecological, brands are switching to electric vehicles, drones, and cargo bikes to avoid fossil-fueled cars. Some examples: General Motors launched BrightDrop, a startup that uses the latest technology to offer \u201call-electric first -and last- mile products and services.\u201d FedEx, Walmart, and Verizon all use their services. In partnership with Mercedes-Benz, Amazon has been adding electric vehicles to its European fleet. Ocado, a UK online grocer, invested $13.6 million in Wayve, a self-driving technology startup, and began to outfit its delivery vehicles with Wayve\u2019s technology. At the same time, online shopping can help the environment by reducing consumer trips to the store. Some retailers moved their businesses online during the pandemic and aren\u2019t reopening their physical locations. Fashion brands like Nike have already started shuttering some of their stores. UBS forecasts that 80,000 retail stores will close in the US by 2026.3. Get circular: Reuse and recycle Retail generates a lot of waste \u2013 a problem that\u2019s only getting worse. The average e-commerce return rate is, as of now, at 23.44%. That means that one in four parcels are returned! Packaging waste is at an all-time high as well. Cutting down on this waste is a top sustainability trend for 2023.European retailer Zabka announced plans to make all its packaging recyclable by 2025. Many fast-fashion brands, such as Zara, implemented demand planning \u2013 an approach that helps accurately predict demand for seasonal items to fight waste. Another way to reduce waste is with a circular economy. This model encourages the reusing and recycling of existing materials and products. Ikea pledged to become fully circular by 2030. McDonald\u2019s and Starbucks joined the trend and seek to expand their reusable cup programs. Many others also employ circular strategies; Accenture predicts that this model will generate an additional $35B of value from reduced costs in the consumer-packaged goods industry by 2030. Circular economy examples: Brands changing the game Circular economy examples: Learn the brands that are leading the way to a more sustainable future, and how they're doing it. 4. Sustainability in 2023: Eco-friendly, fair workplaces To comply with sustainability regulations, brands are analyzing how their workplaces operate and the impact on their communities. More and more retail players, such as IKEA and Prada, embrace the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard \u2014 a globally recognized third-party metric. Many retailers also are ramping up their focus on occupational health and safety. For example, Germany-based supermarket chain Aldi said its committed to improving conditions for workers in its global supply chain. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are advancing as well. In 2021, Target established a Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee, creating racial equity for Black team members, guests, and communities. Target was among several retailers named in Diversity Inc.\u2018s 2022 top 50 companies for diversity. Others include Walmart, CVS Health, and Walgreens. Inclusion and other fairytales: Racial inequity in media and content Inclusive content is simply good business \u2013 so why doesn't more of it exist? 5. Ethical supply chain Changing the way business is conducted via an ethical supply chain is another essential aspect of sustainability trends 2023.Companies are trying to ensure that their vendors, partners, and suppliers uphold ethical standards for environmental stewardship, sourcing, and worker conditions. A few examples: Home Depot Patagonia Peet\u2019s Coffee The ethical supply chain: Definition, examples, stats Consumers expect more from the brands they buy from, and an ethical supply chain is now a requirement. Learn what it means and how to get started. 6. Data and AI boost environmental projects Data and efficient use of technology are helping fuel a sustainable future. For instance, AI has proven essential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As reported by PwC UK, it enables precision agriculture, enhanced weather and disaster prediction and response, and much more. PwC estimates that AI could reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 4% in 2030.Many retailers recognize these benefits; Amazon is actively using AI for their machine learning-based systems. Google\u2019s AI\/ML Earth Engine provides public sector agencies and researchers with data to improve climate resilience. And when firms can\u2019t properly analyze their footprint because they don\u2019t have all the information, companies like sweep.net are stepping up to help brands gather all the data needed \u2013 and promote climate change action.7. Cloud drives sustainability in 2023In addition to AI, cloud technology, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), also is widely used to help companies meet their sustainability goals. According to Accenture, cloud computing leads to a greener tech transformation. Due to their focus on optimization and efficiency, cloud providers design and operate sustainable and low-cost workloads. This technology can help brands battle carbon emissions, lower energy consumption, and support their overall waste reduction efforts. For instance, AWS is working to achieve Amazon\u2019s goal of switching to 100% renewable energy by 2025. The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit, uses AWS services to increase tree cover in underserved communities. AWS is also pioneering water stewardship initiatives promoting a more efficient use of water resources. Amazon isn\u2019t the only cloud technology provider to contribute to the cause. Microsoft has created Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, which assists companies in managing their environmental goals. Google reported that their cloud-operated data centers are twice as energy efficient as typical enterprise data centers. Working towards a greener, fairer world At DataArt, we consider ourselves a part of the society that accepts a wider responsibility towards each other, the communities in which we operate, and the planet we all live on. More and more brands are developing sustainable strategies. They\u2019re ramping up efforts to reduce their environmental impact, switch to more efficient technology, ensure the wellbeing of their staff, and conduct business responsibly and transparently. In 2023, brands that don\u2019t make sustainability a priority will find themselves left behind. Zero waste. Zero emissions. Giants don\u2019t need a foot print to make their mark. Run sustainably with the best.","dateModified":"2022-10-13T15:59:00Z","headline":"Sustainability trends 2023: Top ways retailers will make a difference","name":"Sustainability trends 2023: 7 ways retailers will make a difference","datePublished":"2022-10-13T15:58:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/juiceinter.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/sustainability-trends-2023-FTR-1200x370.jpeg","height":"370","width":"1200","@id":"https:\/\/juiceinter.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/sustainability-trends-2023-FTR-1200x370.jpeg"},"subjectOf":{"@type":"FAQPage","abstract":"The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as \u201cmeeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.\u201d In other words, it\u2019s a way to preserve resources, care about the environment, and build a better, safer reality for all.","name":"sustainability trends impacting retail in 2023","about":["https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q497743","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q219416","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diversity,_equity,_and_inclusion","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q109801645","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q126793#",{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q1824206"},{"@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_chain"}],"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","name":"Sustainability trends impacting retail in 2023","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#Question"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#FAQPage"},"author":{"@type":"Person","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/georgina-gill\/","name":"Georgina Gill","description":"Georgina Gill is part of the Retail\/e-Commerce & Distribution Practice in DataArt, a global software engineering firm. She is a graduate of the University of London and has over seven years of experience in the ICT sector. Georgina\u2019s expertise comprises business development, management, and delivery of custom software development services to companies worldwide through DataArt\u2019s London HQ. She helps retailers successfully navigate through their digital transformation journey to help them build their sustainable future now.","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/georgina-gill-51543a125\/?originalSubdomain=uk","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/georgina-gill\/#Person"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-foc-2x.svg","height":"96","width":"293","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-foc-2x.svg"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","name":"The Future of Commerce","addressCountry":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#Country","addressLocality":"Newtown Square","addressRegion":"PA","postalCode":"19073","streetAddress":"3999 West Chester Pike","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#PostalAddress"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/","alternateName":"The Future of Commerce and Customer Engagement","additionalType":"news media","name":"The Future of Commerce","description":"News, information, and analysis on the future of commerce, including e-commerce, customer engagement, B2B, B2C, DTC, supply chain, sustainability, and purpose.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/4844282","https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/a-call-for-a-better-experience\/id1479742201","https:\/\/twitter.com\/FutureOfCEC","https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/feed\/"],"contactPoint":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#ContactPoint","legalName":"The Future of Commerce","parentOrganization":"https:\/\/www.sap.com\/index.html#Organization","numberOfEmployees":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#QuantitativeValue","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#BlogPosting"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/10\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"13","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/10\/\/13\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Sustainability trends 2023: 7 ways retailers will make a difference","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/10\/13\/sustainability-trends-2023\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]