Words by Smiley Team
Although consumers can do their bit to shop ethically and sustainably, the larger responsibility falls on companies to provide better shopping options in the first place. Responding to this need, French multinational retailer Auchan recently announced a sustainable business plan for 2022 that will help inform customers about the products they purchase.
The plan adapts the retailer’s business model to the expectations of consumers hoping to buy ethically and sustainably sourced products. It will ensure citizens can trace the origin of items purchased more easily, allowing them to select locally sourced goods made from sustainable ingredients.
This comes as part of an initiative called La Note Globale, an indicator to help customers choose products with a better impact on the planet and people. Marking products with a number out of 100 (with 100 being the best rating), it is the first indicator of its kind to measure the overall social and environmental impact of products.
CEO of Auchan Retail Edgar Bonte said: “We responded very early to this call for labelling the origin of food products in France. And to take this even further, we have committed with the La Note Globale to make a comprehensive and clear approach.”
Internationally, France is leading the way in its efforts to improve the environmental and social impact of its retail sector. The first nation in the world to penalise supermarkets for generating food waste, it tops the Food Sustainability Index, which ranks 67 countries for their response to the environmental impact of food production.
Individual companies can follow suit by taking steps to inform customers about the sustainability of their products. With 88 per cent of consumers wanting brands to help them lower their carbon footprints, the effort will pay off both environmentally and financially.
