For people and the planet (II)

Heinemann Australia introduces ‘Future Friendly’ concept at Sydney Airport

Heinemann Australia’s ‘Future Friendly’ concept aims to highlight brands and products that integrate sustainable and responsible practices in their production, and raise awareness among travellers of more sustainable product options. Introduced at Sydney Airport in April, the company plans to open further similar stores in the future.

The Future Friendly programme features products that fulfil clear, stringent criteria: suppliers must comply with Heinemann’s Code of Ethics in their business practices, and the products themselves must have two of the following five attributes:

• Certified organic
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Certified fair manufacturing practices
• Significant recycled material
• Plastic-free

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Qatar Duty Free makes switch to sustainable shopping bags at Day2Day essentials stores

Qatar Duty Free marked World Environment Day (5 June) by replacing plastic bags with reusable cotton shopping bags at all eight Day2Day travel essentials stores at Hamad International Airport.

The travel retailer pledged to replace 100,000 single-use plastic shopping bags monthly with reusable branded sustainable alternatives. The cotton shopping bags are reusable at least 500 times, vegan certified, and made from lightweight and locally sourced cotton.

The project marks Qatar Duty Free’s first steps towards becoming a plastic-free, eco-friendly travel retailer, and is also honouring this year’s World Environment Day campaign, #BeatPlasticPollution. The company noted: “Replacing single-use plastic bags is a significant step toward increasing the positive environmental impact at Hamad International Airport and staging QDF’s position as a key player in promoting sustainability in the travel retail industry.”

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Lotte Duty Free promotes eco-credentials

Lotte Duty Free has taken on a leadership role around ESG in Korean travel retail with its environmentally friendly initiatives. Recent examples include the installation of solar power generation facilities at its integrated logistics centre on Yeongjong Island, Incheon. The move has reduced carbon emissions by about 875 tonnes per year. Lotte Duty Free also said it expects to reduce annual disposable plastic waste generated at its airport stores by more than -80%.

In recognition of its eco-friendly management practices, Lotte Duty Free has obtained Environmental Management System ISO 14001 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a first for the South Korean duty free industry.

To mark World Environment Day (5 June) at its main Myeong-dong store in Seoul, customers who purchased more than US$700 of products up to 30 June were rewarded with free eco-friendly gifts. Also at the Myeong-dong store, the retailer replaced disposable plastic cups, lids and beverage carriers with biodegradable alternatives at its VIP customer lounge Star Lounge. The initiative is being expanded to all domestic stores.

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Schiphol Airport Retail and Dopper team up to end single-use plastics

In June, Schiphol Airport Retail (SAR) and sustainable reusable water bottle company Dopper teamed up to offer passengers free water from a new drinking station inside SAR’s flagship L2 store at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This, according to the partners, will prevent the sale of an estimated 750,000 single-use plastic water bottles every year.

SAR – which operates 12 stores at Schiphol and is a JV between Schiphol Group and Gebr. Heinemann – claims to be the first airport retailer in Europe to cease selling packaged water. Instead, the stores now sell Dopper’s premium reusable water bottles; encouraging the 70 million annual passengers in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to forego the use of single-use plastic water bottles.

Among other features, the smart tap tracks how much water has been tapped, how many single-use plastic water bottles have been saved and how much CO2 emission has been prevented. Dopper makes the water tap points findable via Google Maps, creating a nationwide network of places where people can refill their reusable water bottle. By banning single-use plastic water bottles and offering free tap water, SAR said it wants to make a clear statement to the industry and inspire other retailers.

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