WorldGBC report provides sustainable design toolkit for retailers

A clear link has been found between sustainable store design and higher revenues for retailers, according a new report by the World Green Building Council.

Retailers who include natural light, plants, and good ventilation in their stores help to create happier staff and customers and also bigger profits, a new report by the WorldGBC’s study.

The report, which is called Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Retail: The Impact of Green Buildings on People and Profit, was launched on Monday, and shows that retailers have been slow to implement sustainable design in their stores.

The report is designed to help retailers adopt sustainable features in their stores and improve their business performance by providing a toolkit to gauge the value of sustainability on the well-being of staff and customers and as well as sales.

The report is led by the UK Green Building Council and looks to “empower retailers to look within their own properties to understand and monetise how better, more sustainable physical environments can potentially drive profit.”

The new study is part of WorldGBC’s ‘Better Places for People’ initiative which aims to increase demand for green buildings by highlighting the improvements they can make to people’s well-being.

UK chains John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Australian supermarket Stockland were members of the report’s task group and helped to develop the research and findings.

The report says: “It is no accident that this framework begins and hinges upon better economic performance, because until that can be demonstrated, sustainability may be regarded by some as an add-on expense”.

Terri Wills, CEO of the WorldGBC, said: “The days of ‘grey box retailers’ are numbered. A new breed of businesses is emerging which understands that better shopping environments lead to better experiences for consumers which, in turn, lead to better economics for retailers.”

“This report is about empowering retailers to look within their own properties to understand and monetise how better, more sustainable physical environments can potentially drive profit, and in doing so, ultimately strengthens the business case for greener, healthier buildings.”

The full report can be read HERE