http://www.retail-week.com/rss/Responsible_Retail_rss.xml en-uk Marks & Spencer’s controversial 5p food carrier bag charge has resulted in an 80 per cent drop in the number of bags used since the scheme’s introduction in May.  http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/ms_bag_charging_scheme_hailed_a_success.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/ms_bag_charging_scheme_hailed_a_success.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Tom Whittaker 23 July 2008 17:09 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/M%26S%20simply%20food_resized_70_tcm14-580942.jpg Tesco has been given the go ahead to build Britain’s first straw-powered, combined heat and power plant. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/tesco_to_build_strawpowered_energy_plant.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/tesco_to_build_strawpowered_energy_plant.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Tom Whittaker 18 July 2008 17:15 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/TescoEcoStore_resized_70_tcm14-1743822.jpg Seems a pity to rake over last week’s green theme once more, but passing a branch of surf-cum-outdoorwear retailer Howies it was hard not to stare at the eco-message that it was putting out. http://www.retail-week.com:80/ChannelComment/2008/07/green_alert.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/ChannelComment/2008/07/green_alert.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 John Ryan 21 July 2008 12:37 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/JohnRyan_resized_70_tcm14-66529.jpg It’s easy to talk a good game on conditions in the supply chain, but how can you ensure it works in practice? Katie Kilgallen finds out how Marks & Spencer ensures fair trade really is fair http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/07/ground_control.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/07/ground_control.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Katie Kilgallen 11 July 2008 11:00 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/CSR_resized_70_tcm14-1710821.jpg Tesco’s recent AGM in Birmingham attracted its share of campaigners as usual, but the unusual antics of some were outweighed comfortably by the good sense of ordinary shareholders, many attending for the first time. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/us_election_will_affect_us_all.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/07/us_election_will_affect_us_all.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 11 July 2008 11:12 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Neville-Rolfe%2CLucy_resized_70_tcm14-213689.jpg Click here to try our interactive version of the latest issue of Retail Week. http://www.retail-week.com:80/NonChannelContent/2008/07/read_retail_week_online.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/NonChannelContent/2008/07/read_retail_week_online.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 04 July 2008 14:45 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/001rtwk040708_resized_70_tcm14-1686745.jpg Technology comes in for some stick for allowing people to snoop on others. Whether its e-mail, web monitoring or even CCTV, technology’s use often comes with negative connotations. http://www.retail-week.com:80/ChannelComment/2008/07/big_brother_goes_green.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/ChannelComment/2008/07/big_brother_goes_green.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Joanna Perry 02 July 2008 11:28 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Joanna%20Perry_resized_70_tcm14-960122.jpg Many UK retailers can now count themselves among those leading the way on today’s environmental and ethical issues. http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/be_ecological.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/be_ecological.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Katie Kilgallen 27 June 2008 12:03 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/KatieKilgallen1_resized_70_tcm14-577252.jpg Rival retailers have begun to share lorries to help the environment and reduce costs. And joint distribution centres could be the next step. But logistical practicalities and the competitive nature of the industry are proving to be obstacles to innovation. Katie Kilgallen investigates http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/the_chain_gang.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/the_chain_gang.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Katie Kilgallen 27 June 2008 14:02 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/fleet_harmony_ELLYWATSON_resized_70_tcm14-1676411.jpg Forget Glastonbury – the best gig in town was Tesco’s AGM today. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/06/anyone_for_chicken.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/06/anyone_for_chicken.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Jennifer Creevy 27 June 2008 17:31 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Fearnley2_resized_70_tcm14-1655470.jpg A huge amount of effort is going into the development of a carbon label standard. But could such information on products be more misleading than enlightening? Katie Kilgallen reports http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/what_it_says_on_the_tin.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/what_it_says_on_the_tin.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Katie Kilgallen 27 June 2008 11:35 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/CarbonLabelsTesco_resized_70_tcm14-1654905.jpg Soaring oil and gas prices have focused attention on energy issues. But while green energy can be a good option, it can only be part of the strategy. Mark Faithfull reports http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/green_around_the_bills.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/CSR/2008/06/green_around_the_bills.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Mark Faithfull 27 June 2008 11:47 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/WindTurbine_resized_70_tcm14-1654928.jpg These days, communicating your green policy can be tricky: be too vocal and you’ll get accused of greenwash. John Ryan discovers that most retailers are taking a low-key approach instead http://www.retail-week.com:80/Stores/2008/06/something_to_shout_about.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Stores/2008/06/something_to_shout_about.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 John Ryan 27 June 2008 16:20 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/MarksBournemouth_resized_70_tcm14-150386.jpg Sir Philip Green’s Topshop chain is this week pushing to prove just how green it is by hosting the first of what will be an annual environmental event focused on recycling called Topshop Wants Your Rubbish, fronted by model Daisy Lowe. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/topshop_goes_green.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/topshop_goes_green.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 George MacDonald 27 June 2008 10:46 Retail supply chain alliance the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) is to overhaul its sourcing guidelines as the need to promote ethical trade climbs up the industry agenda. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/sourcing_guidelines_to_be_ramped_up_after_child_labour_outcry.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/sourcing_guidelines_to_be_ramped_up_after_child_labour_outcry.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Lisa Berwin 27 June 2008 08:00 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/PrimarkDoc_resized_70_tcm14-1646661.jpg Value fashion retailer Primark has posted a video interview online in which director Breege O’Donoghue is interviewed about last night’s Panorama child labour exposé. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/video__primark_director_speaks_following_child_labour_expose.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/video__primark_director_speaks_following_child_labour_expose.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 George MacDonald 24 June 2008 18:11 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Primark_director_Breege_ODonoghue_resized_70_tcm14-1628904.jpg B&Q and Morrison’s are the two retailers among the first 12 companies to be awarded the new Carbon Trust Standard for tackling climate change.          http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/06/bq_and_morrisons_are_first_retailers_to_be_awarded_carbon_trust_standard.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/06/bq_and_morrisons_are_first_retailers_to_be_awarded_carbon_trust_standard.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Katie Kilgallen 24 June 2008 15:47 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/MorrisonFascia_resized_70_tcm14-76201.jpg A programme airing tonight on BBC’s Panorama will accuse Primark of using manufacturers employing children as young as 11 to make its clothes. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/primark_child_labour_allegations_on_panorama_tonight.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/primark_child_labour_allegations_on_panorama_tonight.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Lisa Berwin 23 June 2008 09:20 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/primark_interior_resized_70_tcm14-227310.jpg Marks & Spencer is to roll out about half of the initiatives it has been testing at its Bournemouth eco-store to its entire portfolio. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/ms_plans_green_store_rollout.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/ms_plans_green_store_rollout.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 13 June 2008 12:48 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/MarksBournemouth_resized_70_tcm14-150386.jpg Primark has sacked three of it southern Indian factories after they were found to have used unauthorised sub-contracting and child labour to produce its garments. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/primark_sacks_factories_found_to_have_used_child_labour.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/06/primark_sacks_factories_found_to_have_used_child_labour.html;jsessionid=FE7CBCE310411B85FEDE43286BD468C9 Amy Shields 16 June 2008 09:59 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/PrimarkOxSt_resized_70_tcm14-119249.jpg