In the first half of 2026, retailers and suppliers continued to reset and review sustainability targets after reflecting on their 2025 milestones. Whether they hit or missed targets, they must face into the next phase of their commitments to 2030, continuing to evolve initiatives to make bigger changes that positively influence their environmental impact. 

Globally, retailers and suppliers are facing economic pressures, with higher costs, tighter margins, and falling shopper confidence. Despite these pressures, businesses will continue to invest in sustainable initiatives, especially where there is a solid business case and clear return on investment, while working towards their internal targets and realising commercial benefits. 

How legislation, regulations and policies evolved in H1 2026 

During the first half of 2026, governments globally have been reviewing, refining and implementing sustainability-focused legislation to improve transparency. 

Three standout industry initiatives:   

These initiatives stand out because they show three different routes to sustainability: shopper transparency, operational governance, and ecosystem collaboration. 

1. Hyper U displays carbon footprint on e-receipts 

French retailer Cooperative U’s hypermarket format Hyper U has piloted a sustainability initiative that integrates carbon footprint insights directly onto shoppers’ receipts.  

Hyper U in Guichen has piloted an innovative transparency solution. In partnership with technology start-up Tickarbone, the store provided loyalty card holders with a breakdown of the environmental impact of their shopping baskets. The breakdown is in the form of kilograms of CO₂ per euro.  

This promotes awareness of products’ environmental impact and can help encourage shoppers to make more sustainable shopping decisions. The data used covers 80% of the product range and provides actionable transparency of the impact different categories have on emissions.  

Using e-receipts to distribute this data to shoppers makes delivery of sustainability messaging simple, while educating shoppers about sustainable grocery choices.  

While the data is not yet granular enough to show product-level impact, the system still gives shoppers insight that can support more sustainable behaviour. 

2. Lidl embedding sustainability at the core of operations 

In 2026, Lidl GB became part of the United Nations Global Compact, a corporate sustainability framework committed to reshaping businesses and improving their sustainability, human rights, labour standards, and anti-corruption benchmarks.  

Lidl GB became the first UK discounter to join the initiative, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and elevating it from a set of smaller operational initiatives towards core strategic and governance alignment. This move enables Lidl to embed global sustainability standards into its operations. 

The scale and systemic transformation involved make it a high-impact initiative, with Lidl committing to transform its full value chain. Access to the UN Global Compact network also enables Lidl GB to collaborate with thousands of companies to drive collective action towards sustainability goals. This allows Lidl to influence its own operations, as well as its suppliers and partners. 

By adopting the framework, Lidl strengthens its credibility and supports large-scale change, delivering multiple sustainability outcomes and embedding sustainability at the core of its business.  

3. Carrefour Spain joins forces with the Forest Stewardship Council  

Carrefour Spain and FSC promoted forest fire prevention by launching a new edition of 'Committed to our forests', a project supported by 10 major companies. The project will focus on ecosystem protection, fire prevention, and soil restoration.  

With Spain facing more extreme weather events and a rising number of forest fires, the initiative aims to protect forests and regenerate areas damaged by fires. 

The project shows the importance of collaboration and how businesses can work together to make a tangible impact on land and communities. 

The 10 major companies supporting the project are: Mahou, L'Oréal, El Encinar de Humienta, Mondelez Spain, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, CVNE, Coca-Cola Foundation, Bel, and Estar Asalvo.  

Three key takeaways:  

• Sustainability messaging is becoming more personalised and embedded into everyday shopper interactions. 

• Retailers are moving sustainability from standalone initiatives into core business governance and value chain transformation. 

• Collaboration is becoming critical for retailers tackling environmental risks that extend beyond their direct operations. 

Want to know about more initiatives? Check out the latest report here.