Reducing the embodied impacts of shopfitting equipment

BRE is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.

Reducing the embodied impacts of shopfitting equipment (IP 4/15) was written by Jon Mussett and Adam Robinson and published by BRE on 5 February 2015.

Major retailers have been reporting, managing and reducing their operational environmental impacts for some time. However, little is known about the embodied environmental impacts of shopfitting equipment.

Key functions of shopfitting equipment include:

• Presenting product: front-of-hose ambient/chilled food and non-food storage and display, fresh food servery counters and specialist categories (such as wine and books).
• Customer service: information desks, till points, self-service checkouts and café furniture.
• Communication: product promotion, store signage, customer information and branding.

In 2011, BRE in partnership with Marks & Spencer, DisplayPlan and FITCH, launched LIST, an online tool that models the impact of equipment designs, based on a cradle-to-grave life-cycle and taking into account packaging and transport impacts.

BRE has since collaborated with the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) to model a range of shopfitting equipment using the LIST tool to benchmark embodied impacts, estimate equipment impacts, examine case studies for reducing embodied impact through changes to equipment design and specification, and develop guidance for the industry.

This 8-page information paper gives the results of this collaborative study and sets out key considerations for cost-effective impact reduction. It provides guidance for designers and manufacturers on producing greener shopfitting display equipment and for retailers seeking to improve their environmental profile.

Its contents are:

• Introduction.
• Embodied impacts of items of shopfitting equipment.
• Estimating equipment impacts for the retail sector.
• Case study using a Marks & Spencer merchandising frame.
• Guidance for the retail industry.
• Conclusions.
• References.

--BRE Group

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