Retail

Criteria such as energy and refrigerant management, food waste prevention, child labour, fair payment to suppliers and employees, local and organic production and water usage have become important factors for consumers when deciding where to shop. To meet these challenges, retailers need to work on their flexibility and credibility, to introduce new technologies in their own shops to constantly improve energy efficiency, and at the same time customise shopping experience. Since supermarkets are the interface to customers, they need to increase their visibility on sustainability issues along the supply chain such as working conditions and footprints of products.
The role of retailers between suppliers and consumers presents an opportunity to transform the operating environment.

What we offer

We combine a wide range of skills and experience to develop proposals in the following areas:

Improving the energy efficiency of stores, fleets and warehouses up to the implementation of energy management systems according to ISO 50001
Support in sustainability reporting for supermarket chains
Calculation of product and company carbon footprints and water footprints for supermarkets and in their supply chains, and the proposal of reduction strategies
Consulting for sustainability strategies and sustainability management
Conducting social return on investment studies to support business model creation
Cross-sector projects to reduce food waste along the value chain

Our Services

Sustainability management

Leading retailers aim to increase margins, attract new customers and reduce costs. We support clients in establishing a sustainability strategy, specific goals and an action plan, as well as measurable key performance indicators to address questions such as:

How do we create value and for whom?
What are the main impacts from our business activities? What opportunities and risks do we face?
How does our business contribute to transforming local and global markets?
How does our business strategy need be to re-shaped?
How good is the sustainability performance of our competitors?

Natural and social capital accounting

Natural and social capital accounting allow the measurement and valuation of the impacts of business activities on the environment and society. Despite the challenges which the monetisation of natural and social capital may pose, broadening the range of metrics and communicating values in financial terms facilitate the consideration of these impacts by decision-makers. Accounting for natural and social capital benefits businesses by offering a better understanding of:

What are the relevant natural and social capital impacts?
What are the business risks and opportunities?
Do we need to change our business model to create more value?

Energy management

Implementing an energy management system shows tangible results relatively quickly and thus proves to be an ideal starting point for sustainability. Together with clients we find the answers to the following questions:

How to reduce energy related costs? What is our return on investment?
Which energy supply risks do we face? What is the best management approach?
Which business opportunities arise from improved energy Management?

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Sustainability supply chain management

Sustainable sourcing in terms of availability and risks is an additional must and goes beyond the merely cost-oriented decisions of the past. A multi-criterial approach is necessary, taking into account additional aspects like environmental and social impact, human rights, corruption or critical materials as well as questions of sustainable transport.ironmental and social impact, human rights, corruption or critical materials as well as questions of sustainable transport.

Sustainability reporting

Increased requirements in terms of transparency encourage retailers to communicate business information on sustainability performance and commitments both internally and externally. Sustainability reports lead to questions such as:

What are our sustainability priorities? How well are these aligned with our short and long-term business goals?
What are the needs of our key stakeholders? How effectively do we address them?
Is our company perceived as a sustainability leader in our sector?
How could we improve our external communication

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Our Stories

First sustainability report in the retail industry in Bulgaria – BILLA Bulgaria
Sustainability management – part of the core business – Lidl Bulgaria
Measurable impact: energy management in the REWE Group (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia)
Energy management at HOFER KG (Austria, Hungary, Slovenia)
The impacts of different business models on natural and social capital – Metro Group
SPAR waste optimization
Energy efficiency studies for stores
Reduction of food waste in supermarkets
Legal compliance services in the field of energy and environmental law

Our Clients

BILLA Bulgaria
Lidl Bulgaria

REWE CEE Group
SPAR Group

Metro Group
HOFER KG

Contacts

Joachim Kircher – Austria
Joachim.kircher@denkstatt.at

Boyan Rashev – Bulgaria
boyan.rashev@denkstatt.at

Cristina Angheluta – Romania
cristina.angheluta@denkstatt.ro

Henrieta Borca – Romania
henrieta.borca@denkstatt.ro

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