Retailers and wholesalers sit at the centre of complex supply chains. Products may be manufactured overseas, transported across multiple countries, packaged, stored, and delivered to customers, meaning a significant proportion of a business’s environmental and social impact can sit outside its direct operations.
Let’s add regulation into the mix. For example, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) places obligations on businesses involved in supplying or importing packaging, while the Plastic Packaging Tax applies to certain plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic.
Consumers are also increasingly interested in where products come from, how they are made and their environmental impact. Businesses therefore need to consider both actual sustainability performance and how they communicate it. The World Economic Forum notes that up to 80% of consumers are willing to pay more for products that are sourced sustainability, creating opportunities for businesses that have a clear approach to ESG.
ESG is increasingly connected to supply chain resilience, regulatory compliance, and customer expectations, alongside the daily operational challenges that exist.
