Retailers and wholesalers are creating solutions for the energy transition
Press release - Environment, Sustainability & Energy
14 February 2023
Retail and wholesale plays an important role in local communities, as well as in the wider EU economy. On many levels, the sector is leading the way in shaping and sharing good practices on energy savings, sustainability goals and supporting the energy transition.
EuroCommerce's new energy transition pages highlight how retail and wholesale is adapting in light of the energy crisis, and despite inflation, with the aim of delivering on 2030 and 2050 green goals. These energy pages illustrate the diversity and scale of initiatives including, energy-saving measures, best practices and investments, with a special focus on managing heating and cooling systems in retail stores, adapting infrastructure and ensuring training for employees to target energy efficiency solutions.
Christel Delberghe, Director General of EuroCommerce commented: ”Retail and wholesale provide an essential service to their customers every day, all over the European Union. The large number of stores and warehouses in our sector consume altogether 220-240 TWh per year, much more than many energy- or electro-intensive sectors. Our sector is delivering solutions to save on energy costs and is making significant short- and long-term investments in energy efficiency. However, the scale of investments required, and low margins mean that the sector cannot do this alone.”
EuroCommerce’s investment study in partnership with McKinsey highlights that the sector would need to invest up to €300 billion to reduce carbon emissions in the sector up to 90% by 2030, including investment in renewable energy solutions, energy efficiency of stores and warehouses and electric charging infrastructure for company fleets and customers. The scale of investment needed is such that the sector will need support for investment and a regulatory framework that will provide incentives to invest.
Many retailers and wholesalers invest in renewable energy through the installation of solar panels and wind turbines to power their stores, warehouses and distribution networks. Many are leading the way by storing excess energy and offering charging stations for customers to recharge their electric vehicles while they shop. These initiatives are not only beneficial for the planet and consumers, but when rolled out at scale, they also help decrease the volatility of energy prices.
The sector’s best practices on the “energy transition” webpages are divided into different categories, including cooling and heating systems, business operations, optimising lighting and workforce and training. Also available on these energy pages is EuroCommerce’s checklist for energy savings measures and a checklist to use in the emergency of blackouts for retailers and wholesalers.
Note to the editor:
EuroCommerce modernised its web presence just in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023.
Along with the new and elegant design, EuroCommerce sought to renew the way it illustrates retail and wholesale, including opinion pieces on key topical issues. One of the new features of the EuroCommerce website includes a new section named ‘Updates on the sector’, highlighting some of the major policy files EuroCommerce experts are working on and allowing the association to feature opinions and issues outside of the regular position papers and press releases.