COVID-19 changed our lives and hijacked many plans we had for 2020. The pandemic also made business executives re-prioritise corporate initiatives, shifting from protecting the environment to safeguarding employees.
Though we are in the middle of a third lockdown in the United Kingdom and tightening restrictions in other countries, the roll-out of vaccines brings hope – allowing executives to revisit pre-COVID-19 plans.
Unfortunately, while COVID-19 will remain a topic for months (and years to come), what has never gone away is the need to look after our planet. Climate change is a significant issue for us. We must respond collectively and with urgency, just like the world did to find a vaccine, to find a way to protect and heal our planet.
One industry that has not let COVID-19 get in the way is retail and, specifically, the shopping centres sector. Though hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in a sharp decrease in footfall and sales, mall operators remain committed to sustainability.
Before we dive into the importance of sustainability, it is essential to define the term. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
To help governments, industries and consumers understand what they can do to protect mother Earth from further irrevocable damage, the UN developed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
All of us as consumers, business executives, and industry leaders must work to achieve these goals because a healthy planet leads to a healthy community, which leads to a healthy economy.
Mall operators are actively running environmental sustainability initiatives – and, if they aren’t, many are planning their strategies because they know consumers and other stakeholders later this year will hold companies accountable for their actions. COVID-19 will not be an acceptable excuse for lack of effort.
In fact, not being sustainable is a poor business practice that costs companies.
According to Vox, $26 trillion is the amount of money humanity could save by 2030 through a global shift to sustainable development. Putting in place best practices and environmentally friendly behaviours create opportunities for companies to generate savings while allowing their customers to contribute to saving the planet.
There are many examples of malls doing great work. The Queensgate Shopping Centre aimed to engage its retailers and tenants to reduce energy, waste, and water use. The mall implemented an assessment scheme called the Growing Greener pledge. The scheme focuses on analysing shops’ environmental components and identifies areas for improvement. The results were impressive:
- 4,253,000kWh saving in energy use
- Zero waste to landfill
- Carbon emissions cut by 2,933 tonnes
- Water use cut of 3.000m3
Queensgate Shopping Centre plays its part in protecting our planet, and they generated £477,000 in savings by improving business operations!
Four Ways Shopping Malls can Save the World
There are plenty of other ways you can promote and encourage environmental sustainability with your customers. In fact, 88% of consumers want companies to help them improve their social and environmental footprint.
However, given malls’ characteristics and complexities, it can be challenging to identify the areas that need improvements.
Here are four ideas for your shopping centre to be more environmentally friendly:
1. Implement a green loyalty program
Loyalty programs are a great way to reward consumers who take steps to protect the planet, and they might also change your clients’ attitudes and behaviours.
For example, you could give customers a discount every time they use their own mugs in your coffee shops; or every time they recycle their old products through your recycling programs. By doing so, they will be incentivised to be environmentally friendly and want to shop in your centre more often.
2. Promote environmentally friendly transportation options
Vehicles are one of the most common causes of pollution. Promoting environmentally friendly transportation options can help you contribute to the cut of carbon emissions. For example, you could increase the number of EV parking slots or reward your employees for cycling to work.
3. Promote responsible consumption and production
Sustainable consumption and production is about doing more with less (UN). Expanding your offer of healthier and more sustainable products in your shopping centre is a great way to promote sustainable practices.
4. Adopt a sustainable energy plan
Sustainable energy meets our current demand for energy without putting the planet’s resources in danger of getting depleted. The use of sustainable energy should be highly encouraged because it is good for the earth, good for the community and leads to cost savings. There are many ways you can. One easy-to-implement solution would be to use LED light bulbs. They are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and can cut energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional ones.
Sustainability matters to your shoppers
Your customers care about sustainability, and 63% of people prefer to purchase products and services from companies that stand for a purpose that reflects their values and beliefs. They will avoid companies that don’t.
COVID-19 has shown that the world can come together in a society threatening health crisis. It’s time that the retail industry works collaboratively to address the challenges facing our planet with the same level of urgency as the pandemic. If we can create a vaccine in record time, we can find solutions to help companies and consumers operate and live more sustainably than we are today.
The role of shopping centres is essential to protecting our planet. Developing and implementing environmental sustainability plans is not only good business practice but good for your brand. Consumers will revisit sustainability once COVID-19 is a memory. Mall operators must do more now before consumers return to judge with their digital wallets.
