Sustainability for Retail

Introduction

Retail Sustainability Leadership, A Private/Public Effort

The private sector has invested in sustainable programs of all sizes for their markets, and for the greater good. Now, the United States should lead an international regulatory effort to make retail a zero-sum contributor to the climate crisis.

In our research for this book, it became clear that the damage to the climate by the apparel and accessories industries ranks as the third worst perpetrator, following energy and agricultural. Rolled into one category, fashion, whether classic or trendy, generates $2.5 trillion annually worldwide and employs more than 75 million people working from sourcing to retailing. It has been identified as responsible for polluting the Earth ...