For retail companies, this field of action deals with issues such as energy efficiency, the collection of energy indicators or the reduction of resource consumption. Specifically, measures can be aimed at lighting and air conditioning in the sales area, cooling goods, water consumption or reducing the amount of paper used, for example.

In this field of action, retail companies are faced with questions such as efficient supply chains, a sustainability-oriented procurement policy, resource-conserving transport of goods to the consumer and compliance with sustainable codes of conduct by suppliers and manufacturers.

For retail companies, this field of action involves, on the one hand, the concrete organisation of working conditions, e.g. in terms of remuneration, participation in company decisions, compatibility of family and academic appointments, work-life balance and the long-term preservation of employees' employability. On the other hand, there are tasks that address the company as a (sustainable) place of learning. Accordingly, this field of action is also aimed at issues relating to the quality of in-company training, further education programmes, etc.

This field of action is aimed at the design of the product range and customer advice at the point of sale. On the one hand, sustainable consumption can be promoted by retail companies including and advertising sustainably produced products in their range and at the same time removing environmentally harmful products from their range. On the other hand, retailers can positively influence sustainable purchasing decisions by providing professional customer advice. This requires informed and motivated employees who can credibly offer and implement this advisory service in discussions with customers.

Retail companies are rooted and networked with their local and regional environment. This field of action is therefore about companies assuming social responsibility in the sense of corporate citizenship, e.g. by providing financial support to charitable initiatives and associations or by getting a company's employees involved in social and/or ecological projects.