Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA)
Submission to the Northern Ireland Assembly Environment Committee
on their Inquiry into Climate Change
February 2009
The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has over a 1000 members from the independent retail grocery and food sector in Northern Ireland who generate in excess of £1 billion turnover every year and employ over 20,000 staff.
We very much welcome the opportunity to submit evidence on this subject.
Northern Ireland is a small business economy with 98% of all business classified as ‘small’. The independent retail sector is the biggest sub-sector of that economy and plays a crucial role as the backbone of the private sector. In addition, NIIRTA is also a socially responsible organisation who through its members strives for a sustainable future in terms of social, ethical and environmental factors.
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today (Blair, 2006). It is widely accepted that emissions of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, from human activities are causing global warming and a change in the earth's weather patterns. The main human influence on global climate is emissions of the key greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO²), methane and nitrous oxide. At present, just over 7 billion tonnes of CO² is emitted globally each year through business and consumer use of fossil fuel (DEFRA, 2009).
The commitment of business and the public sector to tackling climate change is growing in the UK (DEFRA, 2009). For example, recent research from the Friends of the Earth has highlighted the fact that independent retailers and local shops are extremely energy efficient and strive to minimise their impact on the environment (FOE, 2007).
Therefore, NIIRTA is committed in helping the UK Government and the NI Executive achieve its targets to climate change through 5 main proposals which are:
- Publish PPS5
- Promote local town centre shops therefore reduce car usage for shopping
- Promote SMEs who are sourcing food locally and reducing food miles
- Food miles should be labelled
- Reduce packaging
1. Publish PPS5
The publication of PPS5 has many environmentally friendly benefits. The actual shops in which independent retailers trade out of have usually a small square footage as they are generally town centre locations (Independent, 2006). Owing to this, research has highlighted that independent retailers emit less carbon dioxide than larger multiple owned outlets (FOE, 2005). For example, the average greengrocer emits on average three times less carbon dioxide per square foot compared to a large multiple retailer (FOE, 2005).
Moreover, Sheffield University found that large superstores are the most energy inefficient buildings in the retail industrial sector (BBC, 2007). Therefore it can be argued that to help tackle climate change local government must revise the planning laws within Northern Ireland, as the devastation caused from out of town retailing cannot be underestimated.
2. Promote local town centre shops therefore reduce car usage for shopping
Recent work for DEFRA suggests that car use for food shopping results in costs to society of more than £3.5 billion per year, from traffic emissions, noise, accidents and congestion (DEFRA, 2005) and cars are responsible for 20 per cent of the UK's CO² emissions from food transport.
On the other hand, Friends of the Earth (2007) have highlighted that the average independent retail store is more likely to be visited on foot by its customers, therefore reducing car usage and in turn carbon emissions. As a result of this, it is important that Government encourages consumers to use town centre shops as this will enviably reduce car usage for shopping.
Furthermore, it must be considered that 26% of households in Northern Ireland don’t have access to a car (DRDNI, 2007) hence, public transport is an important element of shopping in Northern Ireland and Government must help ensure that it meets the needs of consumers.
3. Promote SMEs who are sourcing food locally and reducing food miles
Agriculture, processing, storage of products and the way consumer’s shop all have to be factored into the bigger carbon emissions picture. Most importantly, t he UK is still generating higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions from transporting foodstuffs than any of the other European countries, (European Commission, 1999).
The term ‘Food Miles’ has been created to describe this phenomenon which refers to the distance food travels from field to plate (BBC, 2004). To paint a picture of the amount of food miles generated in the UK, it is appropriate to highlight that half the vegetables and 95 per cent of the fruit eaten in the UK comes from beyond our country (BBC, 2008). Food transport is responsible for 25 per cent of the miles travelled on UK roads (Sustainable Food, 2008).
Furthermore, Young (2004) stated that local produce generates much less carbon emissions than produce from foreign countries (e.g. food from Mexico emitates 5,278 kg of CO² compared with only 17 kg if the food is sourced locally).
Therefore, it is imperative that local government must look at the issue of food miles within the bigger picture of climate change. It is clear that local retailers in Northern Ireland play their part in reducing food miles and sourcing food locally however, Governement must encourage all retailers in Northern Ireland to follow the example of local independent retailers and source more products locally, not just food but all aspects of retail.
4. Food miles should be labelled
From the aforementioned points, another recommendation for government is to label food with the amount of food miles travelled to help consumers make an informed decision on their food. Moreover, it will also encourage retailers to source locally to meet the demands of consumers.
5. Reduce packaging
Furthermore, local retailers significantly reduce their carbon footprint by the way they pack their produce. Packaging makes up nearly a quarter of household waste, and 70 per cent of it is food related (INCPEN, 2001). In contrast, buying fruit and vegetables from independent shops can produce an estimated 75% less waste in terms of packaging and food waste (Soil Association, 2003).
For instance a independent grocery retailer‘s fresh produce is often sold loose therefore cutting down on the amount of packaging used. In addition, research has emphasised that a higher proportion of their packaging is recyclable (LGA). Government must ensure that all retailers in Northern Ireland follow the same example set by independent retailers and cut down on packaging and plastic bags to ensure an environmentally friendly retail landscape.
Conclusion
From the aforementioned points, it is clear that independent retailers in Northern Ireland are significantly contributing to the fight against climate change. However, there is no debate that more needs to be done from all dimensions of society.
Therefore it is vital that PPS5 be produced immediately to stop the influx of out of town retailing so that shops are located in town centres thus becoming more environmentally friendly.
Finally, Government must think strategically about climate change. Independent retailers must be commended for their contribution to ecologically aware practices and used as an example of good practice across the board.