Revitalising British Retail: How Brands Can Harness The Power Of Private Labels For Sustainable Growth

Full shopping trolley in an aisle

In the drastically shifting landscape of grocery retail in the UK, private label brands are leading the way in redefining consumer expectations and retail dynamics. Traditionally seen as value alternatives, these brands are increasingly viewed as leaders in both quality and innovation. In this article, we explore this shift which may have profound implications for legacy FMCG companies. The new …

Long-term Business Resilience Requires Nature-Based Solutions

Woman rice field

World Environment Day should remind us to reflect on our practices, re-orient if off course, and renew our commitment to a people- and planet-positive world. As we navigate the complexities of a changing climate, it’s crucial we recognise that we, and our businesses, exist within a living system. At a time of increasingly devastating weather events, this year’s theme, “Land …

Using Green Materials In Construction Today May Not Be Expensive After All

Build Ahead has investigated the intricacies of the cement manufacturing process, computed potential premiums associated with decarbonising cement, and explored how this impacts end users. Our research shows that existing cement products on average can be made 30% less carbon intensive without impacting construction costs whereas a net-zero product would only lead to a 1-3% increase in construction costs. This …

Where is the opportunity with ESG regulation?

Despite the short-term fall in prominence for some ESG funds, the growth of ESG regulation has meant that demand for sustainability-linked products and services is here to stay. The question for asset managers and owners is how to respond to this increased regulatory responsibility. The short-term picture for ESG funds at the end of 2023 remained mixed, with Article 8 and …

A Framework For Cement And Steel Governmental Green Procurement

India is the second largest cement and steel producer, with capacity to produce approx. 7% of global production for both.  To urgently kickstart the decarbonisation of these fundamental materials, the government of India should formally begin green public procurement. Strong signals from the public sector will provide the demand certainty that cement & steel producers need to invest in decarbonising …

Are We Making Money Yet?

Group board meeting inside an office

This Autumn it’ll be four years since Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England, said, “the transition to Net Zero is the greatest commercial opportunity of our time”. In the face of macroeconomic headwinds characterized by sluggish growth, inflationary pressures, geopolitical unrest, and a fragmented policy landscape, we have asked ourselves a simple question: Are we making money …

Indian consumers are ready for green buildings

Insights into consumer demand for green products, especially green building materials and green buildings, are extremely limited in India. This is particularly true for the burgeoning middle-class segment. Through our research, it’s clear that middle-income residents in Tier 1 cities are concerned about environmental quality and already have demand for green buildings and materials. The problem is they are hampered …

Insights From The Intersection Of Vision And Impact

A new year is a new start, a time to recommit to our collective mission of impact and to generating people and planet-positive action. At Xynteo, we left 2023 with a sense of optimism in the potential for the coming year. However, 2023 also brought a sense of realism with a controversial COP that did not go nearly far enough …

Collaborating With Ikea (Ingka) To Become People And Planet Positive

In 2019 we worked with IKEA Retail (Ingka Group) to deliver ONE HOME, ONE PLANET (OHOP) at one of their leading sustainable stores in Kaarst, Germany. The event is part of the company’s ambitious strategy to become people and planet positive by 2030. OHOP is an action-focused event that aims to shape and influence the sustainable future of retail, by exploring how retail can inspire …

Unlocking Capital To Power India’s Energy Transition

Wind turbines on a sunset backdrop

As India seeks to harness renewables to power its net-zero ascent, enabling industries to retrofit infrastructure and adopt clean technologies remains capital-intensive. Prevailing climate financing architecture spotlights inherently “green” domains such as solar and electric mobility, while underserving the decarbonisation needs of carbon-heavy sectors. This skewed allocation threatens to constrain the transition pathways of sectors vital to India’s economy, such …

Strengthening Green Building Ratings In India

Embodied carbon forms almost 30% of the carbon footprint of the built environment. Most of this embodied carbon comes from the manufacturing of commonly used building materials like cement, concrete and steel. The share of embodied carbon, in India and globally, is expected to increase to more than 50% by 2050 as the share of operational carbon, i.e., emissions resulting …