Sustainable Practices in Spanish Retailing: Evidence from Apparel and Grocery Retailers

Abstract

Over the last decade, retailers have shown an increasing interest in providing evidence of the sustainability of their activities. This is mainly due to the demands of policy and consumers as well as competition. Indeed, several retailers are making efforts to design and implement sustainable practices from a Triple Bottom Line approach (i.e., economic, social, and environmental sustainability). This chapter discusses the sustainable practices of leading Spanish top grocery and apparel retailers, focusing on those that may be considered as setting benchmarks in their respective sectors. A content analysis of annual report sections related to sustainability, independent sustainability reports, and information published by these main Spanish retailers, enables us to identify three main types of practices providing evidence of retailers’ sustainability. These are cross-industry sustainable practices, industry-dependent practices, and firm innovations. These practices may become guidance and inspiration for other retailers in these sectors, as well as in other product assortment.

Citation

Ruiz-Molina, M.E. and Gil-Saura, I. (2018), "Sustainable Practices in Spanish Retailing: Evidence from Apparel and Grocery Retailers", Lavorata, L. and Sparks, L. (Ed.) Food Retailing and Sustainable Development, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78714-553-520181002