Green stores deliver bigger profits

Green stores deliver bigger profitsAccording to the World Green Building Council, the days of grey box retailers could be numbered as a new report reveals how sustainability can boost profits by improving the retail environment.The WorldGBC’s Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Retail: The Impact of Green Buildings on People and Profit finds that most retailers don’t understand how the physical retail environment can affect staff, customers and business performance.Chief executive officer of the WorldGBC, Terri Wills, said the report aims to “empower” retailers to “look within their own properties to understand and monetise how better, more sustainable physical environments can drive profit”.Emerging evidence finds that greener, healthier retail stores – those with high levels of daylight, fresh air and greenery – are more attractive to consumers and more profitable for retailers.The WorldGBC refers to research undertaken by American retailer Walmart, which found retail sales in areas of naturally-daylit stores outperform those that are artificially illuminated.Other research undertaken by the International Council of Shopping Centres suggests that lifestyle centres – sets of uncovered stores connected by pedestrianised walkways and natural features – have higher numbers of repeat visits.Richard Francis, principal of The Monomoy Company, chaired the report’s project task group. He said retailers have a “distinct advantage” over other sectors because they best understand how consumers behave.”Linking that behaviour to sustainable store design will be a catalyst for major change within the industry – change that will lead to retail spaces which are better for consumers and employees, retailers, and the environment.”The WorldGBC said retailers are sitting on a potential “gold mine” of data that can cement the business case for investing in healthy, greener stores.Download WorldGBC’s Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Retail: The Impact of Green Buildings on People and Profit.