Le blog de Nestore

How to set up your store in an eco-responsible way?

Do you have a store and want to benefit from an eco-responsible layout? Some points must be taken into consideration in order to successfully design your store in an eco-responsible perspective. Let's find out all this in detail.

Choose a green energy offer for your store

If you too want to make a gesture in favor of the planet and protect nature, the first thing you have to do is reduce energy consumption of your store. Indeed, energy farms are among the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2018, The energy industry produces around 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions (Source). It is the strongest international emission center.

So, if you are interested in the design of an eco-responsible store, consider taking out an offer. green energy for professionals. You will thus participate in the development of renewable energies. Before opting for this or that green energy contract, it is recommended that you compare the offers currently available. To do this, you can use the energy comparator offered by Energy Supplier.

Paying attention to electricity can also involve simple actions, such as prefer LED bulbs to others, similar to what is proposed Smart and Green (or even Leroy Merlin!). Clarins has thus chosen a 100% LED lighting model in its new point of sale located in the Marais. Its point of sale is representative of what can be a sustainable store.

Our tips for an eco-responsible store

In addition to limiting your energy expenses, there are other ways to set up a store in an eco-responsible way.

1. Pay attention to furniture when setting up your store

To make your store ecological and have a lower environmental impact, you can start by buying so-called “ecological” furniture. To do this, pay attention to their composition, their place of manufacture and the means of transporting the goods.

For example, some seats are made from recycled materials. Clarins, mentioned above, thus makes extensive use of recycled materials to furnish its point of sale in the Parisian Marais. Its plus: One of its recycled materials is marble, thus bringing a sustainable and luxurious touch to the point of sale.

The origin of your furniture products is also an essential point in considering a product as eco-responsible or not. To do this, choose a furniture made in France or even locally. Its main ecological advantage is the distance from the location of your store: fewer kilometers to cross and a more environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Renting furniture is also a very good alternative to consider for your layout project. Few people know it, but it is possible, for example, to rent your furniture. An option that is even more interesting if you are creating a pop-up store.

So, when your furniture no longer suits you, you can simply return it and it will be refurbished before being rented again! Also, do not hesitate to turn to furniture from second hand, like what you can find at FabBrick. Retaped and restored, or made from restored materials, they will give a very special cachet to your retail space! Moreover, the consumers who want to recycle can also do it by bringing their packaging back to the store.

2. Encourage selective sorting in your store

Instead of using trash cans or simple baskets, prefer composite tanks of several compartments. This will help you sort your waste properly. Also, you are advised to reduce your use of packaging and disposable products or, if necessary, to use packaging made with biodegradable materials.

‍And if you have important (potentially confidential) documents or archives that you need to get rid of, do not hesitate to call on specialists to collect your waste and destroy it responsibly.

3. Turn to eco-responsible promotional materials

Flyers, kakemonos, labels, posters... All of this has an ecological impact that is far from being negligible! If you want to make your store more eco-friendly, you will need to be imaginative so that your promotional materials have a minimal ecological impact. You can bet on less ephemeral communication and more sustainable promotions, by explaining your approach to your customers. If you really want to mark the occasion with flyers, you can turn to recycled paper... Or even “seed” paper, containing seeds of your choice!

4. Put plants in your store!

Plants are a great way to purify and refresh the air inside your store in a totally eco-friendly way! Choosing the right plants to purify your indoor air is essential. Also consider Give priority to labels eco-responsible like Plante Bleue when buying your plants.

Success Case: the eco-friendly Faguo store

A pioneer in responsible retail, Faguo was able to integrate an ecological dimension into its retail strategy from the very beginning.

With a tailor-made concept designed by the Fairly studio, the men's ready-to-wear brand, committed to more sustainable fashion, shows that retail and ecology can be compatible. Thus, it manages to drastically reduce its CO2 emissions: -29% carbon emissions per store.

This performance is due in particular to the reuse of furniture and equipment from these previous concepts, to the recyclability of the latter or to the choice of its suppliers.

Success Case: the store responsible for the Body Shop

La Brand: The Body Shop opened a new point of sale in 2021, which meets its ambitions to be eco-responsible. This”Activist Maker Workshop” is located in Dijon. This is a first test before the brand launches the concept on a large scale, to transform all of its French points of sale. The facade is made of zinc; the furniture is made of reclaimed wood and previously recycled plastic. Everything is designed there to be in line with the environment.

Retail can therefore also be sustainable

Choosing to make a pop-up store or a sustainable store is a choice that is accessible to all brands. And this, regardless of whether their products are already eco-responsible themselves, or not. And whether the brand was born with an eco-responsible approach, or not. Adopting a sustainable turn during the life of the brand is a possibility for everyone, DNVB as a large group. Indeed, it exists a host of solutions thanks to other companies specialized in the subject, to allow you to offer consumers the possibility of shopping without damaging the environment.