A whole of life approach to improve the environmental sustainability of the retail sector: An Australian case study

The retail sector in Australia is a major consumer of energy and water. It accounts for about 50% of the commercial property sector’s energy use. This paper reports a whole-of-life study undertaken for a telecommunications company in Australia, with a view to changing their retail store fit-outs. Using a detailed construction and operational performance study of one retail fit-out, this study found that to lower overall environmental impact, a complex set of factors need to be considered. Design, construction and operation are all significant.

Ongoing operation needs to consider not just the physical use of the space, but also management policies/practices/processes that impact on the environment. While short term targets for energy reductions focus on careful product selection, medium to long term targets focus on setting benchmarks for continuous improvement and working with the base-building providers and supply chains to innovate and drive improved performance.