Carbon emissions across the retail sector could be reduced by more than one third with the use of electronic labelling, according to research.

The study, carried out by consultancy Greenstone Carbon Management, found that moving from traditional paper labels to electronic point-of-purchase displays (Epops) could enable quick price adjustment and reduce in-store food waste.

“Epops show a clear advantage over paper labels, and if their full functionality is exploited, the potential reductions in food and packaging waste make them an even more attractive option for environmentally-aware retailers,” said Greenstone Carbon Management chief executive Matthew de Villiers.

“Preventing the waste of just 1kg of beef at a deli counter is equivalent to the carbon footprint of 24 Epops over five years,” he said.

“So the carbon saving through reducing food wastage has the potential to far outstrip the carbon savings of the Epop device itself,” he said.