Retail businesses impact on the environment in a variety of ways - either indirectly through the upstream activities of suppliers, or directly through utilities for heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and lighting. As customers come into contact with the business, there is potential for demonstrating your environmental credentials and having a significant influence on consumer behaviour through promoting greener products. Other important environmental issues affecting your sector include waste disposal (especially packaging), the leakage of refrigerant gases and water pollution (e.g. storing cleaning agents, run-off from car parks etc) and consumer impact through transport or product use.

Listed below are links to detailed information on the most relevant pieces of environmental legislation affecting your sector.

Many initial measures such as reduced energy and material use have both a positive carbon and economic payback.