From the retailer's perspective, possible environmental initiatives can be divided into three categories.
Upstream Activities in the Product Chain Upstream activities can reduce the indirect environmental impacts of retailers by selecting green products and 'greening' the product chain before the product reaches the store; or in other words addressing what retailers choose to offer the consumer and how it is produced.
In-Shop Activities In-shop activities can reduce direct environmental impacts from the retailer’s own operations, by focusing on in-house environmental management of their facilities, for example, energy and water consumption and waste generation, as well as environmental impacts from transportation and logistics.
Downstream Activities in the Product ChainDownstream activities can reduce the indirect impact of retailing associated with the purchasing, use and disposal of products by consumers. The overall aim of such activities is to make it easy and attractive for consumers to make sustainable choices.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency Strandgade 29 DK-1401 Copenhagen K Phone: +45 7254 4000
Copenhagen Resource Institute Højbro Plads 4, Mezzaninen DK-1200 Copenhagen K Phone: +45 7254 6160
The Nordic Council of Ministers Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K Phone: +45 3396 0200
Key trends in environmental impacts from consumption in Nordic countries reveal that more action is needed.
The role of retailers in the transition towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (PDF, 424KB)
Potential policies to promote SCP via the food retail sector in Nordic Countries (PDF, 400KB)
Read more about the project (PDF, 108KB)