BioRegional aids Kingfisher's corporate responsibility success

17.06.2011

Kingfisher has published its latest Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, Future Homes showing strong environmental performance such as from the 16,500 eco products that BioRegional has independently verified – accounting for nearly 11% of total retail sales in 2010/11.

The video introduction from the Group Chief Executive, Ian Cheshire, outlines the company’s new sustainability vision through to 2020. Ian Cheshire is championing Kingfisher’s work to create a sustainable business model for the long-term and pioneering a move towards more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

Kingfisher’s independent Stakeholder Panel, which reviewed the report, commented: “Kingfisher is poised to realise the incredible opportunity that sustainability presents for a forward looking business. At the heart of this opportunity is using sustainability to create new market share through the innovation of new products and services.”

Four key sustainability priorities have been identified where the company can make the most difference: innovation, energy, timber and communities.

Key highlights of the year:

*Innovation: 16,500 independently verified eco products – accounting for nearly 11% of total retail sales in 2010/11.

*Energy: Working to help customers create energy-efficient homes, e.g. B&Q UK, Kingfisher’s largest operating company, has trained 1,250 staff to be in-store Eco Advisers and launched ‘energy-saving centres’ within stores.

*Timber: 81% of reported timber volume sold from proven well-managed forests or recycled sources – ahead of the Group target of 75%. B&Q UK became the first major retailer to achieve its goal of only buying 100% of timber products from proven well-managed sources.

*Communities: £1,600,000 invested in community projects and over 26,000 work hours spent on community volunteering activities.

Kingfisher has also made good progress in reducing its carbon footprint – achieving a 25% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions from energy and transport per £ million retail sales since 2006/07. It has also reduced total waste disposed by 36% over the past year. Brico Dépôt France and Castorama France have achieved a combined annual cost saving of over €3.3 million as a result of waste reduction initiatives in 2010/11.

View the full report at www.kingfisher.com/CR. A six-page summary report is also available to download or email corporateresponsibility@kingfisher.com for a printed copy. You can also watch a video of our team talking about their work with Kingfisher.