EuroCommerce sees European retail as an engine for economic resilience

To grasp the full scope of these challenges, and where EMAS and retail associations can support, we sat down with Nick Dornheim, a senior adviser on sustainability & environment at EuroCommerce, the principal European retail and wholesale association. 

What is EuroCommerce? What types of industry partners do you represent? 

We bring together national retail and wholesale associations from across Europe, representing around 5 million companies of all sizes, from family-run shops and independent wholesalers to some of the world’s largest retail groups.  

Our membership spans food and non-food retail, e-commerce, cash-and-carry, specialised wholesalers, and omnichannel operators. Sitting at the very heart of the Single Market, retailers and wholesalers act as the vital link between producers and consumers, translating innovation into affordable choice and ensuring essential goods reach communities everywhere.  

What are the main challenges facing Europe’s retail sector? 

European retail and wholesale are navigating a period of profound transformation. Economic uncertainty, rising operational costs, and persistent skills shortages are placing pressure on margins, particularly for SMEs. At the same time, retailers face an unprecedented wave of regulatory change, from sustainability and packaging rules to digital, consumer protection, and competition frameworks. 

The challenge is not ambition, but implementation. Retailers strongly support Europe’s climate and circularity objectives, yet the sheer complexity and speed of new legislation risk stretching capacity and investment power, especially where rules are interpreted differently from one Member State to another. Maintaining a well-functioning Single Market, avoiding fragmentation and ensuring workable, proportionate regulation are therefore central concerns for our sector. 

Why is environmental management guidance so important for retailers?  

Retail operates at scale and pace. Thousands of stores, millions of products, and complex supply chains mean that environmental impacts are both significant and diffuse. Clear, practical environmental management guidance helps retailers translate high-level policy goals into concrete action on the ground. 

For our members, guidance is essential to prioritise effectively: reducing energy use in stores, cutting waste, improving logistics efficiency, and working with suppliers on lower-impact products. Without clarity and coherence, there is a real risk of duplication, unnecessary cost, and slower progress. Good guidance enables retailers to invest with confidence, benchmark performance, and demonstrate tangible environmental improvements to consumers, regulators, and investors alike. 

How would you describe the added value of EMAS for European retailers? 

EMAS is open to both small and large companies and can be used regardless of the sector or products a business is selling. It helps organisations measure the improvement of environmental performance over time and communicate transparently through verified environmental statements. 

What are your hopes for the future of European retail? 

Our hope is for a competitive, innovative, and sustainable retail sector that continues to deliver choice and affordability while supporting Europe’s climate ambitions. Retailers and wholesalers are ready to invest in digitalisation, skills, low-carbon infrastructure, and circular solutions, provided the right conditions are in place. 

Looking ahead, we want a policy environment that recognises retail and wholesale as a strategic pillar of the European economy, values simplification and coherence, and empowers businesses of all sizes to thrive. If Europe gets this right, retail can remain a powerful engine for economic resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable growth, right where citizens experience Europe most directly: in their everyday lives.