SCHEME OVERVIEW
The SKArating Retail sustainability assessment scheme offers retailers, landlords and project teams a practical and accessible framework for assessing the sustainability performance of retail fit-out and refurbishment projects. Designed specifically for the retail sector, the scheme reflects the unique challenges and opportunities that retail environments present — from fast-paced fit-out programmes and high material turnover to the significant environmental footprint of retail spaces at scale.
Using a set of sector-specific Good Practice Measures, the scheme enables project teams to evaluate, benchmark and demonstrate environmental performance across key impact areas including energy, water, materials and waste. Whether you are fitting out a flagship store, refreshing an existing space or rolling out a portfolio of retail units, SKArating provides a clear, consistent and credible means of evidencing your sustainability commitments.
The current Retail v1.0 scheme is live and available for use, with an updated version in development (Q2 2027) to align with Net Zero Carbon and 100% Circularity goals — ensuring the scheme remains at the forefront of sustainability good practice.
For retailers and restaurateurs, assessing stores and dining spaces through SKArating delivers tangible value beyond the assessment itself. It provides a structured means of tracking and improving sustainability performance across a portfolio, supporting corporate sustainability strategies, meeting investor and stakeholder expectations, and demonstrating genuine commitment to responsible fit-out. For brands operating at scale, consistent use of the scheme across multiple sites builds a powerful and credible evidence base — one that can inform procurement decisions, strengthen supply chain accountability and support public reporting on environmental progress.
Joining SKArating means joining a community of like-minded industry professionals committed to raising the bar for sustainable retail fit-out. Projects are registered via the SKArating online tool, giving your team immediate access to scheme resources, Good Practice Measures and assessment support.
KEY AIMS OF THE RETAIL SCHEME
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To provide a sector-specific assessment tool that reflects the pace, scale and nature of retail fit-out and refurbishment.
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To drive measurable progress towardsenergy efficiency and material recycling across retail projects.
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To enable retailers and landlords to assess and benchmark sustainability performance consistently across single sites and wider portfolios.
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To support corporate sustainability strategies and provide credible evidence for stakeholder, investor and public reporting.
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To encourage responsible procurement and supply chain accountability within retail fit-out projects.
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To raise the standard of sustainable fit-out practice across the retail sector, in line with industry good practice.
KEY SCHEME DETAILS
The SKArating Retail Environmental scheme provides a clear and practical framework for assessing the environmental sustainability of retail fit-out and refurbishment projects. Developed by and for the industry, the scheme sets out a series of Good Practice Measures across key environmental impact categories, enabling retail project teams to evaluate, benchmark and demonstrate their sustainability performance in a consistent and credible way.
IMPACT CATEGORIES
The scheme covers the following environmental and one wellbeing impact categories:
- Energy & Carbon
- Water
- Materials
- Waste
- Pollution
- Wellbeing
- Transport
- Project Delivery
SCHEME MEASURES
- The Retail v1.0 scheme contains 112 Good Practice Measures across 8 impact categories.
- Each measure is weighted to reflect relative environmental impact.
- Measures are either a yes/no decision, a performance benchmark, or a project process.
- Projects are scored and awarded a SKArating of Bronze, Silver or Gold.
SKArating ROADMAP TO 2030
The SKArating Board has published a Scheme Development and Updates Roadmap to 2030 to support industry and market alignment, and to inform strategic decision-making across stakeholders. The Roadmap sets out our ambition to deliver more frequent scheme updates that help drive the market, respond to the pace of industry change, and reflect growing client demand for performance.
CONTACT
If you have any questions or require further clarification, please contact us at [email protected]