Sustainability

Report: Baby Spice jumps into online retailing game
A former Spice Girl has a new career. Emma Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice, is the co-founder of a new environmentally-friendly diaper and skincare online store, according to Retail Gazette.
Home furnishings giant completes another solar project
Ikea has completed the installation of one of the largest solar rooftops in Ohio. The solar panel installation is atop the retailer’s future store in Columbus, Ohio, due to open in summer 2017. The 213,000-sq.-ft. solar array consists of a 1.21 MW system, built with 3,546 panels, and will produce approximately 1,447,700 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 1,017 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Home Depot is in the midst of an EPA investigation

Home Depot disclosed an ongoing Environmental Protection Agency investigation into its lead safety practices related to its installation services business. In an SEC filing published on Thursday, Home Depot disclosed an investigation by the EPA's criminal investigation division into its compliance with lead-safe work practices. Home Depot is currently cooperating with the EPA, having previously responded to civil document requests from several EPA regions.
Home furnishings giant plugs in another fuel cell system

Ikea continues to grow its U.S. renewable energy portfolio, with a goal of being energy independent by 2020. The retailer has completed installation of its fifth biogas-powered fuel cell system in California – and in the country – at its East Palo Alto location in the San Francisco Bay area.
Specialty outdoor retailer’s sales — and donations — surge

The nation’s largest consumer co-op reported a solid year amid ongoing sustainability achievements. REI reported annual revenues of $2.56 billion in 2016, up 5.5% from $2.42 billion in 2015. Same-store sales, which include direct to consumer sales, rose nearly 4% and digital sales grew by nearly 18%.
Albertsons names Mayes senior VP external affairs, chief diversity officer

Albertsons on Friday appointed Jonathan Mayes to the post of senior VP external affairs and chief diversity officer. In his new role, he will head up the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as its government relationships, philanthropy and sustainability departments.
Denmark’s largest retailer gets ‘smarter’ about energy

Coop Denmark has deployed a new solution to help it reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020. The retailer, which has some 1,200 stores, will deploy Honeywell’s software-based energy management solution, Enacto, and up to 20,000 wireless Enacto submeters throughout its stores, providing the retailer with a unified view of energy use across all of its locations.
The Oaks attains a first in green building standards

The Oaks, a 39-year-old Macerich-owned property in Thousand Oaks, California, has been awarded the first BREEAM green standards certification for an in-use building in the U.S. BRE America, a unit of the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM), bestowed the designation on the Macerich property at an awards event in London this week. BREEAM is the oldest sustainability assessment method for new construction, renovations, and in-use properties.
Ethically-sourced Brilliant Earth expanding in brick-and-mortar

Another online retailer has made the jump to the physical space. Brilliant Earth announced plans to open three new locations, in San Diego, California; Washington, D.C.; and Denver, during the spring and summer. The new showrooms will join the retailer’s five other existing locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.
Meijer investing in new stores, remodels

Privately-owned, family-operated Meijer announced plans to invest more than $375 million in new and remodeled stores in 2017 across its six-state footprint. The investment includes the construction of seven new Meijer supercenters and 22 remodel projects. While Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin will each welcome new Meijer supercenters later this year, dozens of other Meijer stores have begun or will soon begin remodel projects to enhance the customer shopping experience.
Amazon in big solar initiative

Amazon is making a big commitment to renewable energy. The online giant announced plans to install solar panels on its fulfillment facilities around the world, including the deployment of large-scale solar systems on rooftops of more than 15 U.S. fulfillment and sortation centers this year. Amazon plans to deploy solar systems on 50 fulfillment and sortation centers globally by 2020.