Sustainability In Store Design: Myth Or Reality?

While there is growing acknowledgement on the need to make sustainability an integral part of the retail business, in practice however there is still a long way to go. So the moot question here is: How can sustainability become a viable business goal in the context of store design? It may be added that sustainability here means something that is environmentally responsible, while serving a long-term function and purpose. VM&RD reached out to a few store designers and architects to get some answers. Read on…

- Mohit Manghani

Sustainability seems to be the word on everyone’s lips today. While the word itself has left many folks confused, it hasn’t stopped them from using it indiscriminately. But despite it being a misunderstood though overused term, there is collective acknowledgement of the need to do something urgent in order to reduce the carbon footprint and contribute our own bit towards mitigating the effects of the environmental crisis. In the midst of all this, is the retail industry on the right trajectory as far as sustainable and environmentally responsible initiatives are concerned?

Well, on the surface of it, India’s estimated $450 billion retail industry is yet to view sustainability as a necessity. Only a handful of Indian retail companies seem to be into sustainability right now. In order to ensure that the drive to sustainability goes up in the retail space, large retailers from India are making sustainable development initiatives a part of their corporate goals.

With fast deteriorating environmental conditions and growing consumer awareness, attention is indeed turning to the brick-and-mortar stores – how they are resourced, designed and constructed.

On the other hand, many retailers considering the integration of sustainability in their outlet face the following questions:

1. Is sustainability cost-effective?

2. Will sustainability pay off in the near future?

3. Will sustainability provide a competitive advantage?

4. Will customers appreciate the sustainability efforts?

To address some of these issues, understand the general take on sustainability and also arrive at how sustainability can become a real and meaningful part of retail design, VM&RD spoke to some leading architects and designers. Several key questions and issues cropped up. Here’s a look.