What is the Retail Impact Initiative (RII)?

The Retail Impact Initiative (RII) is a sector initiative focused on sustainable procurement. It was founded in 2024 by ALDI SOUTH Group, Lidl International and REWE Group to improve sustainability across the retail supply chain by sharing best practices and processes, driving a common understanding across the industry and enhancing efficiency, all within the limits of competition law. Since its creation, Gebrüder Heinemann has joined the initiative as the fourth member, and the first travel retailer.

All RII members request their suppliers' sustainability assessments on the EcoVadis platform and meet regularly to discuss sector-view insights, share best practices and plan supplier capacity-building activities organized by EcoVadis as their coordination office within the limits of competition law. You can find all the active members at the dedicated RII website.

The initiative is growing and welcomes new members such as food and beverage, textile, health and beauty, sports and electronics retailers. One of the main focuses of the initiative is legal compliance with directives such as CSDDD, which focuses on corporate accountability for human rights and environmental impacts throughout the companies’ value chain. The Retail Impact Initiative aims for a future where greater transparency, accountability and commitment to continuous improvement are embedded across supply chain operations, all within the limits of competition law. Through collaborative partnerships and aligned sector-wide standards, RII aspires to build upon a sustainable foundation for human rights and the environment.

If you have received a request to be assessed by EcoVadis or to share your existing and valid EcoVadis Scorecard with an RII member, you are considered a trading partner for at least one of the members of this sector initiative. By accepting RII’s request, your company agrees to share your EcoVadis Rating with all current and future RII members.

If your company has not received any requests from any RII member, but you wish to share your EcoVadis Scorecard with RII proactively, please contact us via this form. Alternatively, you can reach us directly at sectorinitiatives@ecovadis.com.

To learn more about the benefits of a sector initiative to a rated company: What are the benefits of sector initiatives?

For a deeper look into the Retail Impact Initiative, please visit our website.