April 14 2021  |  Retailers

Aer Rianta International launches new five-year ESG strategy

By Laura Shirk

With more than two hundred ESG initiatives already implemented or completed across thirteen business units globally, the organization is already demonstrating its commitment to create a more conscious shopping experience

Aer Rianta International (ARI) has updated its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy in line with the marked change in consumer behavior brought about by COVID-19 and the organization’s intention to develop a more conscious shopping offering. The ambitious five-year strategy, which is founded on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforces ARI’s commitment to conduct its business in an environmentally, socially and ethically responsible manner for its customers, partners and team.

Led by Nuno do Amaral, ARI’s Chief Operations & Business Development Officer, the ESG program is the culmination of several months of work delivered by cross-functional working groups across the ARI estate. With more than two hundred ESG initiatives already implemented or completed across thirteen business units globally, the organisation is already demonstrating its commitment to create a more conscious shopping experience. Over the next five years, ARI will focus its action on three core areas:

1. Supporting local communities and people to thrive, by establishing programs that support community and planet initiatives

  • A core component of this is to foster inclusive, diverse, ethical and healthy workplaces, that encourage, challenge and support colleagues, customers and partnerships

2. Driving environmental efficiencies to reduce its carbon footprint through plastics and waste reduction,and energy efficiency both within the current estate and in future refurbishments and new store build

3. Partnering with local suppliers and brands that share our sustainable business vision and working to supply a best in class range and service

“As a global organization, we believe in building a business that is good for our team, our communities and the planet. We believe in doing this not only for us, but also for generations to come. While I am immensely proud of ARI’s achievements to date, this new action plan will challenge us even further to transform the way we do business and ensure we are doing everything we can to play our part and to recreate the future of travel retail, as we want to see it," says Nuno do Amaral, Chief Operations & Business Development Officer, ARI.

Highlights from the strategy include:

  • Achieve zero “waste to landfill” in countries with the appropriate infrastructure by the end of 2022
  • Eliminating single-use plastic bags in favour of bioplastic, recycled and recyclable alternatives and eliminate waste from single-use plastics from retail and office operations by the end of 2023
  • Reducing CO2 (p/sqm) emissions from all operations by 15% by the end of 2025
  • Improving energy efficiency in all operations by 25% by the end of 2025
  • Increasing the number of products ranged that have sustainable USPs or are certified by third party best practice standards by 300% by the end of 2025
  • Ensuring that 80% of all suppliers and 100% of new third-party service providers are committed to an aligned sustainable corporate code of conduct by the end of 2025
  • Implement at least five CSV community outreach and climate initiatives in each market by end of 2022

REGION Americas
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