With COP 26 fresh in the memory, SLR catches up with JTI’s Ruth Forbes to learn more about the company’s sustainability initiatives.
How important is sustainability right now?
“It has never been more important and not just for the good of the industry, but for society. It’s not only retailers, manufacturers and those in the retail industry: all businesses need to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by the government’s 2050 deadline. While this is still some time away, the issue demands attention now and at JTI UK we are committed to leading the way in helping the industry become more sustainable.
What are the key areas of concern for retailers in Scotland?
Even in the grip of hard lockdowns, retailers were thinking about how sustainability impacts their business. Earlier this year, JTI carried out the largest ever sustainability-focused survey in the independent convenience sector and the results showed that over two-thirds of independent retailers recognised they need to do more. The survey also revealed the top three types of help retailers want from suppliers: more sustainably packaged products, reusable PoS and advice sustainability during in-store visits.
What practical steps can retailers take to improve their carbon footprints?
Each store will be different, but we’d suggest retailers review energy efficiency levels overall in their store and install energy efficient refrigeration and LED lighting. In addition, they could look to introduce light sensors or a ‘switch off’ policy in areas that aren’t in constant use, such as a stock room.
Reducing plastic bags and opting for refillable solutions where possible can really make a difference. Converting to digital paperwork is a great solution. JTI recently moved to digital invoicing in the independent channel, so retailers can now choose to sign up to receive their paperwork digitally rather than on a till roll.
How have JTI helped support retailers so far?
We can make the most significant positive difference if we all work together. Recently, JTI has been working on a new Partner to Trade sustainability project with the UK’s leading Responsible Business Network, Business in the Community. The project involves working with retailers and wholesalers to spread the word on practical steps towards becoming more sustainable.
What environmental initiatives are JTI undertaking?
Twelve months ago, we launched our UK Environmental Plan 2030 and next year we will continue to work towards several ambitious sustainability targets across five key focus areas: emissions, energy, waste, water and stakeholder engagement.
This includes pledging to become Net Zero by 2030 – 20 years ahead of the Government’s deadline. We are also committed to increasing recycling rates of general waste to 75% and reducing general waste by 20% – helping save 22.8 tonnes of waste being generated and recycling an additional 21.2 tonnes each year by 2030.
By the end of this decade, we will also have transitioned our sales fleet to electric vehicles – helping to save 776 tonnes of CO2e emissions – the equivalent to 155 hot air balloons per year.
How important is sustainability likely to become in future for retailers?
We know shoppers are becoming more environmentally conscious. Being a more sustainable retailer will be important in standing out from the crowd and attracting environmentally conscious customers to their stores, as well as reducing monthly outgoings.
