At Responsible Retail, we specialise in the reuse of business retail waste, including footwear, apparel, and other retail products. We have contracts with some of the largest branded retail companies in the UK. Our goal is to successfully handle worn faulty returns, odd footwear, old stock, shop-damaged items, and customer returns.

Before the pandemic, retail companies were actively involved in sustainable retail practices, considering their carbon footprint and environmental impact. However, during the pandemic, there was a shift back to landfill as it was deemed politically incorrect for employees to handle second-hand or “dirty” customer returns.

Now, with the pressing issues of global warming, climate change, plastics, and pollutants, it is crucial to revisit sustainable retail practices. At Responsible Retail, we collect retail waste and send it to those who need it the most. We have been exporting customer returns to third-world countries for over 30 years.

We are not a charity but a recycling company specializing in the reuse of retail waste. Our initial incentive was to provide shoes to those in need. We believe that wearing footwear and apparel until the end of their life is the best solution for sustainability and reducing carbon footprints, rather than using energy-intensive and environmentally harmful processes to turn them into other products.

We are proud to say that we reuse nearly 70% of the retail waste goods we collect. For the items we cannot reuse, we choose to send them to the Peterborough ERF, an energy recovery facility where they are incinerated to produce electricity.

In this process, we also support our customers’ charities. For example, many of the stock we receive still has commercial value, and we make donations to charities supported by our customers in exchange for the retail stock. Over the years, we have donated more than £300,000 to various charities.

Waste Management and Recycling -66%

Waste management and recycling are essential components of retail sustainability. Many retailers are implementing zero-waste policies to minimise waste production and maximise recycling efforts. By reducing waste, retailers can conserve natural resources and promote a more sustainable future.

Our company has a negative carbon footprint of 66%, which means we offset other companies’ footprints. As we continue to grow and maintain this negative carbon footprint, we can offset even more. At our head office, we utilise a biomass boiler system that uses pallets and packaging for heating our storage facilities. We also harness solar energy for hot water and electricity.

Economic Advantages of Sustainable Retail

In addition to the environmental benefits, sustainable retail practices offer significant economic advantages for retailers.

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, they actively seek out retailers committed to sustainability. By adopting sustainable practices, retailers can attract eco-conscious consumers, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.

Investing in sustainability practices can ensure long-term financial stability for retailers. These practices help reduce operational costs, increase revenue, and improve brand reputation.

Retailers can also reduce costs and environmental impact by implementing recycling programs. This not only lowers disposal costs but also enhances brand reputation and customer loyalty.