The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association of the Shopping Centre Industry, has called for closer co-operation between retailers and property companies to reduce energy use and carbon emissions in stores and shopping centrer across Europe.
Speaking at the first European Retail Forum in Brussels last month, ICSC Europe Managing Director, Ermine Amies, said: "The property industry has an important contribution to make to EU carbon emission reduction targets. Our members, who include shopping center owners, developers and managers, want to work with retailers and their staff to reduce environmental impact."
Launched earlier this year, the European Retail Forum aims to reduce the environmental impact of the retail sector and promote more sustainable consumption patterns. It is open to all retailers involved in the EU-driven Retailers Environmental Action Plan. The Forum invited ICSC to take part in the work devoted to energy efficiency in stores.
Jaap Gillis, CEO of Dutch-based retail development company, Redevco and chair of the ICSC Sustainability Task Force, was also at the meeting. He said: "Successful reduction of CO2 emissions within shopping centers is all about measurement, improvement and habit. Retailers and shopping center management must share information on how their businesses are run, jointly develop recycling, waste management and energy efficiency systems which work for everyone within the shopping center and incorporate them into the center's weekly management routine."
Source: Nicky Godding Communications
