What: WRC partnered with Deloitte to release a sustainability report exploring exclusive research into how retailers are driving sustainability using the latest cloud-based technologies.

Why it is important: Overall sustainability is crucial for retailers to remain competitive and thrive in the long term and provides practical insights and strategies for retailers to drive sustainability while protecting their bottom line.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers; therefore retailers must prioritize sustainability initiatives to remain competitive. There are many ways that retailers can drive sustainability:

-    Reducing waste

-    Improving supply chain transparency

-    Promoting ethical manufacturing processes

Such areas can be enhanced even more by digital technologies, such as data analytics and automation, as they can help retailers identify areas for improvement and implement sustainable practices more efficiently. These tools also allow retailers to leverage customer data to personalize sustainability efforts and increase customer engagement.

Collaboration with suppliers, industry organizations, and other stakeholders is also key to driving sustainability across the entire supply chain. While sustainability initiatives may initially increase costs, they can also lead to long-term cost savings and improved revenue through increased customer loyalty and brand reputation.

Purposeful retail: How to drive sustainability in retail while protecting margin