B&Q’s commitment to BioRegional’s
One Planet Living Programme

BioRegional will work with B&Q to develop two sustainability action plans (SAPs). The first plan will look at improving B&Q’s own operations against the ten principles of One Planet Living. The second plan will help B&Q’s customers achieve One Planet Living in their homes and gardens through products which are consistent with the ten One Planet Living principles. BioRegional will work with B&Q to extend its current range of eco-products and develop new lines to result in a substantial One Planet Home product range.

BioRegional will set targets for both plans against each of the ten principles using Ecological and Carbon Footprinting to allow for truly sustainable and equitable use of resources for everyone around the world. B&Q will be the first retailer to attempt to meet these demanding targets.
As a first step towards One Planet Living B&Q will:

Phase out Patio Heaters.
BioRegional’s research shows that the smallest 4.5kW table top patio heater emits as much CO2 in two hours as the average individual electricity consumption for a whole day. B&Q - the largest seller of patio heaters in the UK – has said that once its seasonal stock of patio heaters runs out in 2008 it will not restock them. It is the largest home improvement retailer to make this radical commitment.

Use only FSC certified wood to make B&Q kitchens.
A founder member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), B&Q also revealed that its entire kitchen range is now 100% certified by the FSC. This means that all wood used to make B&Q’s kitchens comes from well-managed sources. As the UK’s largest seller of kitchens, this is great news for the environment and for consumers.
Give free growing kits and seeds to 5,000 schools
Food forms 21% of our Ecological Footprint in the UK and is a key area to tackle as part of One Planet Living. One in five children has never picked and eaten their own fruit and one in five 8 – 13 year olds has never visited the countryside. In a bid to bring the countryside closer to them B&Q has teamed up with Year of Food & Farming and will send free growing kits and seeds to 5,000 schools throughout the UK.

Sue Riddlestone, Executive Director of BioRegional said: “Achieving one planet living is the challenge of our times. Most people know that we have to take action but don’t like the idea of having to cut back or go without.

“What we have found through our real-life sustainable communities and products is that it’s more about being efficient and developing new ways of doing things. People are happier living a ‘one planet’ life. A sustainable future is nothing to be afraid of, but something we can all look forward to. We are delighted that B&Q has stepped up to the mark and said, ‘we will do it and we will help our customers to do it too”.

Ian Cheshire, CEO of B&Q said: “We have announced a number of groundbreaking moves today (20th Jan 08) relating to our business processes and products. Each of these decisions was taken with our customers firmly in mind, in order to provide them with home improvement solutions for the 21st century whilst minimising our business impact on the environment.

He continued: A quarter of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from the home and as the largest home improvement retailer in the country we are uniquely placed to help customers make a real difference. We are all too aware of the impact our lives have on the environment and our initiatives will provide real and simple solutions to help people live more sustainable lives.

We are very proud to have signed up to BioRegional’s One Planet Living initiative and look forward to working with them over the coming years to become a One Planet Living business”.

Last updated 12th May 2008