Sustainable retailing and consumerism

In concluding their review of the environmental and social performance of some 86 worldwide retailers Storebrand Investments (2003) argued that “Shopping is increasingly becoming a leisure activity – done not out of necessity but out of luxury. The long term effects of encouraging consumerism, which is in direct conflict with the definition of being sustainable, is a real conflict to tackle as a retailer” and they encouraged retailers to address this important challenge. In many ways consumerism has become an increasingly defining characteristic of modern, nay post modern, societies (Stearns, 1997) while at the same time sustainability has moved higher and higher up political agendas around the world. This short article looks to explore some of the tensions between consumerism and sustainable retailing. It begins by providing a basic outline of sustainable development and consumerism and of the role of retailing in linking production and consumption and it then examines some of the ways in which UK based retailers are looking to address sustainability agendas.