As reported by across-magazine.com, Pragma, a specialist consulting firm for operators and investors in mixed-use, travel and retail property, has set out its understanding of the attitudes and issues faced by the four core stakeholders in the retail industry: consumers, retailers, investors and asset managers.

Pragma believe that whilst sustainability considerations are impacting the choice of what to purchase, it seems that consumers are not yet choosing where to shop based on the sustainability credentials of shopping centres. This may result from limitations on alternatives or a lack of awareness of an assets' sustainability credentials. 

The jury is still out on whether online or in-store shopping is more environmentally friendly, with studies funded by different organisations coming to opposite conclusions. However, either way, there is increasing pressure from investors to demonstrate the impact their investments will have on environmental concerns.

This all leads to the question of whether asset managers need to be more vocal about the sustainability measures they are taking, and the speed with which they are taking them, if they want to win more investment and more footfall? And will retailers start demanding more from asset managers in terms of making shopping centres more sustainable?