We live in a world where the rate of consumerism is growing. And with it, the rate of consumption also increases, impacting our natural resources and the environment at an alarmingly fast pace. Whether humankind will be living on other nearby planets a hundred or two hundred years from now is anyone's guess. So until then, this is the only place we have to live, and it is our responsibility to take care of our planet and leave it in the best shape as we pass it down to the next generation.

The responsibility is not just limited to the few of us who do our best to recycle or become more mindful of the resources that we consume. This extends to every factory and retailer, whether it be a dairy farm or an electronics store or an e-commerce retailer. It is essential that these businesses not only adopt best practices around sustainability to help reduce their carbon footprint, but also proactively analyze, revise, and share their progress with the world in a transparent manner. Quite a few retailers have Customer Value Officers (CVO) who are responsible for doing this already. Brands such as Best Buy, Nike, Kohl's, Lands' End, and Amazon publish detailed sustainability reports annually. However, many other retailers simply release a statement or a paragraph or two about their commitment to the environment, and nothing more.

From a retailer's standpoint, sustainability needs to be thought of not only from the perspective of conserving energy to save operating costs but also from the perspective of creating an impact and value for its customers through ethically responsible actions that improve economic, social, and environmental conditions. According to Sustainable.org's Guide to Sustainability, "there are lots of ways in which being more sustainable will help [a retailer]. It will help [them] become more efficient, improve [their] brand value and reputation, provide a platform for innovation, help attract and retain staff, achieve better growth, cut costs and strengthen stakeholder relations." Further, per McKinsey, retailers with higher environmental, social, and governance metrics are more financially successful and have more public support.