The National Retail Association (NRA) has partnered with Carbonhalo (Emissions Reduction Collective—ERC Protocol), a platform designed to help businesses to reduce carbon emissions in a cost-effective way.
According to a recent NRA Retail Sentiment Report, only 16 per cent of businesses will increase spending on sustainability in 2024, putting pressure on the nation’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.
“Retailers are key to Australia’s transition to net-zero, so making sustainability more affordable to business owners needs to be an industry-wide priority,” says NRA director Rob Godwin.
“We have found that operational costs for 77 per cent of all retailers will be worse this year with energy costs, wage costs and insurance being major constraints on business.”
Indeed, there are significant upfront costs for businesses that want to implement sustainable practices and with the current cost-of-living crisis they are looking for cost saving measures while still reaching their low carbon targets.
Carbonhalo CEO, Richie Mulder, says their ERC Protocol platform is designed to remove cost burdens by standardising and simplifying emissions reduction.
“The ERC Protocol provides tools, education, one-on-one support and automation to create a seamless sustainability journey for business owners, which would allow them to showcase their impact and engage with customers,” he explains.
“Prioritising sustainability is no longer optional, but a necessity. Done correctly, it significantly enhances a business’ reputation and attracts new customers.
“In the current cost-of-trading crisis it’s so important for retail owners to adapt and differentiate themselves by adopting the ERC Protocol. It offers a tailor-made roadmap for businesses to better embrace sustainability and move towards a carbon-neutral future.
“Ultimately, the platform is designed to help businesses identify cost saving measures and increase customer appeal, making sustainability a financially viable strategy,” he adds.
