Given the global situation concerning climate change, it is evident that sustainability is more than an economic model of production. To this date across countries and industries, there is a common understanding that sustainable economic practices are the starting point of a new global transition into a long-lasting green economy.
In view of the latest global trends in consumer behavior and governmental legislations in many European countries, a massive wave of change is driving the ongoing economic development. Interdisciplinary European research as well as the development of new technologies are, undoubtedly, supporting this sustainable modernization in many economic sectors, including the retail and placemaking industries. Therefore, it is vital that we have an updated and realistic perspective on the issues and challenges of the moment.
ACROSS has reviewed and compiled current studies, papers, and different types of publications. Here you find a list of relevant research on Sustainability, the topic of our 1st ACROSS Magazine 2022 issue:
The Sustainable Development Goals and Leading European Retailers
Retailers have a crucial role in contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This article offers a wide perspective on the challenges of sustainability within the retail community, referring to the current United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It reviews how seven of Europe’s leading retailers claim to be committed to address the SDGs. The authors emphasize on the role of Europe’s largest retailers, the challenges that the retail community face and its powerful position to drive sustainable production and consumption processes.
Author(s) : Peter Jones and Daphne Comfort. Gloucestershire Business School
Published: 2021, Athens Journal of Business and Economics
Link:The Sustainable Development Goals and Leading European Retailers
The effect of Sustainability on Retail Values, Rents, and Investment Performance: European Evidence
The emerging wave of global sustainable economies has a significant impact on the retail real estate industry, directly influencing the performance of individual properties and the performance of portfolios and/or funds. This data-based study presents an international outlook on the retail sector in the Netherlands, also comparing data samples from the retail sector in the UK and the US. This paper presents the effects of sustainability on the investment performance of a portfolio of 128 retail properties in the Netherlands.
Author(s) : Hans Op ‘t Veld & Martijn Vlasveld. Journal of Sustainable Real Estate
Published: 2020, Taylor & Francis and Routledge Imprints
Link: The effect of Sustainability on Retail Values, Rents, and Investment Performance: European Evidence
Rethinking Retail: A Lead user approach for nudging strong sustainable consumption behaviours in shopping centres
Environmental, social, and economic changes pose striking challenges to the retail industry around the world. Currently, environmental changes are the ones shaping social behaviours and influencing economic outcomes. The author of this research focuses on providing a comprehensive understanding of the drivers that motivate sustainable behaviours and new projects within the retail industry. This academic research addresses the current market trends and the challenges that the retail industry faces with the implementation of sustainable projects, such as green infrastructure and the overall demand of sustainable services and products.
Author(s) : Santala, Saga-Sofia. School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in Helsinki, Finland
Published: 2019, Aalto University
Places of Phygital Shopping Experiences? The New Supply Frontier of Business Improvement Districts in the Digital Age.
A wave of changes in the retail sector has impacted the traditional capital concentration, internationalization of store concepts and various diversification formats. In these days multichannel business models and retailer operations are inescapably connected to both physical and virtual spaces. This research considers the latest changes within the retail sector, including urbanization changes, COVID regulations, and digital retail management strategies.
Author(s) : Diogo Gaspar Silva and Herculano Cachinho. Center for Geographical Studies, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Published: 2021, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Transformation and Sustainable Development of Shopping Centres: Case of Czech and Slovak Cities
The development and expansion of urban retail environments has been traditionally influenced by globalization; nevertheless, in the last years the focus has started to shift, giving priority to the demands of sustainable spaces, products, and services. This study focuses on the placemaking and retail activity of the Czech and Slovak republics. It includes historic consumers behavioural trends, dating back to the middle of the 20th century up to the current transformations, which the retail market is undergoing as a consequence of the global transition into green economies.
Author(s) : František Križan, Josef Kunc, Kristína Bilková, and Markéta Novotná. Institute of Geography, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovak Research and Development Agency
Published: 2021, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Link: Transformation and Sustainable Development of Shopping Centres: Case of Czech and Slovak Cities
Assessing Customer Preferences for shopping Centres: Effect of Functional and Communication Factors
Considering old business models and new sustainable initiatives, retail companies are operating in a highly challenging and competitive environment. Moreover, this independent study looks at the retail activity under the lenses of sustainability, whilst considering the growth of the retail sector in Vilnius, Lithuania. This study includes the perspective of experts in retail centers from Vilnius, and it incorporates the consumers’ preferences within the context of COVID-19.
Author(s) : Migle˙ Cernikovait, Žaneta Karazijiene, Lina Bivainiene and Valdas Dambrava. From various universities in Lithuania
Published: 2021, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Link: Assessing Customer Preferences for shopping Centres: Effect of Functional and Communication Factors
Rethinking Retail Digitisation in Urban Settings. The Case of Leipzig, Germany
In view of the field of retail economics and urban development, this research portrays digitalization as a key transformative factor in the development and modernization of the retail industry, and in the transformation of urban spaces. Using economic, social, and retail data this study offers an analysis of innovation levels in fast-growing cities; it presents a cluster analysis including 14 of the largest cities in Germany.
Author(s) : Tanja Korzer, Marcus Hübscher, Katrin Schade, Johannes Ringel. UMS Stadtstrategien, Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Institute of Urban Development and Construction Management, Leipzig
Published: 2020, ICE Virtual Library
Link: Rethinking Retail Digitisation in Urban Settings. The Case of Leipzig, Germany
How does Retail Engage Consumers in Sustainable Consumption? A systematic Literature Review
Based on the ongoing sustainable transition of the retail sector, this literature review presents a large scope of information on marketing interventions, channels, techniques, tools, and key factors that lead consumers to engage in sustainable consumption. This systematic review includes an array of contextual factors concerning the development of shopping environments, online stores, and retail mock-up stores in Romania.
Author(s) : Carmen Bālan. University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania
Published: 2020, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Link: How does Retail Engage Consumers in Sustainable Consumption? A systematic Literature Review
Urban Sustainability in Europe – Opportunities for Challenging Times
With a general and integrative perspective this document highlights the post- COVID scenario, including all the new practices and the challenges that have emerged out of the climate crisis. This document takes a closer look at the immediate and long-term effects of sustainable practices, for local production and local independent retail businesses as well as for the overall population. This briefing includes information about investments in green infrastructure, urban special planning, social policy, economic recovery, and the creation of cost-effective sustainable products and services.
Author(s) : Briefing no. 03/2021, European Environment Agency of the European Union in Denmark
Published: 2021, European Environment Agency
Link: Urban Sustainability in Europe – Opportunities for Challenging Times
Global Sustainability Study 2021: What Role do Consumers Play in a Sustainable Future?
Sustainable development goals spread from legislation offices to all type of businesses around the globe. The global initiative of sustainable practices is redefining traditional business models. This study focuses on the behavior of international markets and consumers trends, offering a perspective between companies that operate under a traditional business model and the ones that have changed rapidly adopting eco-friendly practices.
Author(s) : Shikha Jain, Olivier Hagenbeek, Bobby Shogren
Published: 2021, Simon-Kucher & Partners, Strategy and Marketing Consultants
Link: Global Sustainability Study 2021: What Role do Consumers Play in a Sustainable Future?
Sustainably sustaining (online) Fashion consumption: Using influencers to promote sustainable (un)planned behaviour in Europe’s millennials
A large percentage of consumers demanding sustainable products are millennials, and this study explored the consumption patterns of this generation across the European continent. The theoretical framework of this research paper is based on how online retailing and digital technologies have come to influence consumers’ behaviours. This research also considers how the COVID pandemic has significantly pushed consumers to increasingly use of online fashion retailing.
Author(s) : Leanne Johnstone & Cecilia Lindh. Orebro University School of Business, Orebro, Sweden; School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
Published: 2021, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services
Surviving the Retail Apocalypse: What to learn from “Clicks-to-bricks”
There are two major trends driving the changes within the retail sector. The first is the demand of sustainable products; and the second one, is digital shopping and fast delivery. Very much focused on market trends and European retailers, this study closely looks at customer consumption patterns, the role of social medial and retailer operations, also providing a general forecast about future commercial changes in Europe.
Author(s) : Dr. Christian Wulff, Retail & Consumer Leader at PWC
Published: 2019. PWC, Germany
Link: Surviving the Retail Apocalypse: What to learn from “Clicks-to-bricks”
The Circular Economy and retail: using Deep Learning to predict business survival
Beyond emphasizing on the relevant concept of circular economy, this study offers a projection of the success rate of the retail European market. This study presents a circular economic approach at three major levels, namely: micro-level (products, companies, consumers), meso-level (eco-industrial parks), and macro-level (city, region, and nation).
Author(s) : Juan Uribe‐Toril, José Luis Ruiz‐Real, Alejandro C. Galindo Durán, José Antonio Torres Arriaza and Jaime de Pablo Valenciano. Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Almeria, Almería, Spain
Published: 2022, Springer Open, Journal of Environmental Sciences Europe
Link: The Circular Economy and retail: using Deep Learning to predict business survival
How to SHIFT Consumer Behaviors to be More Sustainable: A Literature Review and Guiding Framework
Marketing and sustainability practices are greatly valuable for the commercial activity of retailers. The customers’ demand for sustainable products is growing, and with this new marketing strategies have arisen to position new eco-friendly products and services on the market. This research encompasses factors and strategies that have encouraged sustainable consumers behaviors.
Author(s) : Katherine White, Rishad Habib, and David J. Hardisty. American Marketing Association
Published: 2019, SAGE Journals
Link: How to SHIFT Consumer Behaviors to be More Sustainable: A Literature Review and Guiding Framework
Retail Transformation under the influence of Digitalization and Technology Development in the Context of Globalization
In view of sustainability, digital innovation, and globalization, this study addresses the digitalization of national retail chains in the Russian Federation. This study refers to the internal business environment in Russia, and it analyses the factors that influence the transition and sustainable development of the retail industry. It also offers a comparative analysis of the structural changes of 50 top global retailers, including European ones from the UK, Netherlands, France, and Germany.
Author(s) : Ibragim Agaevich Ramazanov, Svetlana Viktorovna Panasenko, Vyacheslav Petrovich Cheglov, Elena Anatol’evna Krasil’nikova and Alexander Fedorovich Nikishin
Published: 2021, Department of Trade Policy and the Russian University of Economics
Retail Policies and Urban Change in Naples City Center: Challenges to Resilience and Sustainability from a Mediterranean City
During times of commercial modernization and reorganization of public urban spaces, this research considers the transformation of the city-retail-consumption relationship, spatial vulnerabilities, and the actual challenges for the retail industry concerning sustainability. In addition, this research article provides a chronological economic analysis of the retail evolution in the City of Naples, also including new retail policies and the role of transnational retailers in the landscape of international store networks.
Author(s) : Rosario Sommella and Libera D’Alessandro. Department of Human and Social Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”. Naples, Italy
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Global Impact at Scale: Corporate Action on ESG Issues and Social Investments | 2020
In the last couple of years, the economic changes caused by the COVID pandemic and the climate change crisis have been a central focus for numerous economic sectors. This collaborative research poses a global vision regarding the economic and environmental challenges that new and established businesses, including retailers and new investors, face around the world and in the Europe.
Author(s) : Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose; CECP; Global Exchange Partners
Published: 2020, Wider Sense
Link: Global Impact at Scale: Corporate Action on ESG Issues and Social Investments | 2020
A Paris-Proof Retail Real Estate Sector: A vision and roadmap for decarbonized retail property
The retail property sector is inevitably undergoing major changes, propelled by new sustainable urban companies’ policies and legislations. This article provides information on the current developments and future projects concerning sustainable property investments, green infrastructure, and retail property developers in Europe.
Author(s) : Caroline Milne. BPIE. Paris, France
Published: 2021 BPIE (Buildings Performance Institute Europe)
Link: A Paris-Proof Retail Real Estate Sector: A vision and roadmap for decarbonized retail property
For further information and requests please contact:
Raquel J. Martinez, BA & BSc
Data Research Analyst / Editor
r.martinez@across-magazine.com
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the information and availability of all the articles and research studies listed above. All studies and research articles are distributed by open sources, and the intellectual and property rights are entirely reserved for the authors and institutional sources.
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