The wholesale and retail sector acts as the intermediary between producers and consumers and is considered crucial for the efficient and effective flow of goods. The sector makes up a significant portion of the global economic output and employment and is crucial for continuing world economic growth.

Consumers are increasingly demanding more sustainable options for purchased goods and as such, the sector plays an important role in providing a gateway for sustainable products. According to CDP, supply chain emissions are on average 5.5 times greater than operational emissions. This means the wholesale and retail sector is in a position to push positive change down through their complete supply chain, in addition to implementing its own resource efficiency action.

In addition to directly implementing resource efficiency measures such as energy efficient refrigeration and transport and recycling packaging, companies engaged in this sector can also play an important role in promoting similar measures among their suppliers. Such action supports efforts towards making supply chains more resilient against climate change and other unforeseen crises.