Key Updates on Retail4Impact
The Retail4Impact Coordination team is pleased to share with you a few updates on the progress made by the Frontrunning Coalition of retailers, brands and partners these last few months.
Retail4Impact's Frontrunning Coalition
A frontrunning coalition of 8 leading retailers and brands and nearly 30 partners across major emerging markets has come together in March 2025 for a year-long capacity building programme, committed to prevent greenwashing communications regarding product sustainability.
Ole Supermarket (China Resources Vanguard Group), X5 Group, Bosideng, Determinant, Beesline, Suzano, Nestle Brasil and Kunshan Yizheng Coffee Co., Ltd, among others, are leading by example by developing and/or strengthening at least one of their product green claims in line with the principles of the UNEP Guidelines on Product Sustainability Information.
Retail4Impact Community Takes Action: Case Studies in Progress!
Our Retail4Impact community is more engaged than ever! After participating in a series of highly informative workshops—covering topics from greenwashing regulations and credible disclosure mechanisms to consumer trends and corporate strategies to drive behavioral change (see picture below for more information)—companies are now actively drafting detailed case studies. Each case study reflects an in-depth analysis of one of their green claims, aligned with the 10-principle framework of the UNEP Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information. This marks a significant step forward in promoting transparent and credible communication!
Retail4Impact Learnings Revealed in July!
Throughout July, discover the practical learnings from the Retail4Impact initiative’s 2025 pilot phase! Participating companies and supporting partners will be openly sharing their experiences in a dedicated communications campaign. The highlight of this campaign will be on July 29th, when the One Planet Network and our Frontrunning Coalition of retailers, brands, and partners will jointly disseminate the initiative’s key achievements and insights. This concerted effort campaign aims to build significant momentum and inspire more companies to join our impactful initiative. Here’s a glimpse at companies and partners’ testimonials on their journey within Retail4Impact:
“We are thrilled to announce that Ole Supermarket has officially joined the Retail4Impact global initiative, becoming the first supermarket retailer in China to participate in this program. By joining this community, we work to offer more effective, comprehensive, and trustworthy environmental information to sustainability advocates, making every "sustainable choice" visible and impactful.” – Yao Ying, Marketing Director, Olé High-end Supermarket, China Resources Vanguard Company Limited (CRV)
“This initiative was eye-opening. It gave us the clarity and practical guidance we needed to communicate our environmental efforts with honesty and accuracy, and to avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing.” – Estelle Zanety, Sustainability Officer at Beesline
“For us, Retail4Impact is a vital platform to align international best practices with national implementation – building trust, ensuring transparency, and empowering consumers to make responsible, evidence-based choices.” – Yulia Gracheva, Director, Ecological Union (Vitality Leaf ecolabel)
“As a long-term partner, Akatu Institute is glad to be part of Retail4Impact. Within these months, exchanging experiences with both national and global partners provided us with valuable opportunities to explore alternative approaches to disseminate and implement the Guidelines effectively.” – Lucio Vicente, General Director
“As a supporting partner and coordinator of the China Taskforce of Retail4Impact, China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA) has been actively engaging retail enterprises in China to join this global effort to enhance the credibility of product sustainability claims.” – Qinhua Guo, Director of Sustainable Consumption Promotion Department, CCFA
Retail4Impact Continues: Join Us in 2026!
You’ve missed the opportunity to join the Retail4Impact initiative in 2025? Good news: the initiative continues in 2026, with an even stronger value proposition and broader scope.
More information will be available soon on OPN’s website and in upcoming newsletters – stay tuned!
For any questions or to express interest in taking part in Retail4Impact, reach out to manon.sennechael@un.org.
Addressing the stages of the Value Chain:
