Overview
Future homes
Helping people create sustainable, affordable homes of the future... with good value products and services that are better for the home and better for the planet.
Our Future Homes strategy
As one of the world's leading home improvement retailers, Kingfisher is in a unique position to help consumers make their homes more sustainable at lower cost. At the same time, we aim to make our own business more sustainable by reducing our environmental and social impacts.
This is what Kingfisher's Future Homes strategy is all about: helping customers, employees and suppliers make the homes of the future more sustainable and affordable.
Our strategy ties in with our Delivering Value business plan by adding value to the Group in two key ways:
- growing sales of eco products and services
- reducing costs through improved eco efficiency
How we implement our Future Homes strategy
Our seven Future Homes goals set out our long-term vision on key sustainability issues. We also have Group targets for each of our goals (most of which run until 2011/12) and report progress against them annually. We have started working with the independent sustainability experts Forum for the Future to set key milestones and long-term targets for the next ten years.
A comprehensive 166-point implementation plan is used to drive implementation of our strategy across the Group businesses. We monitor the progress of our operating companies twice a year. We also report Group key performance indicators on an annual basis.
Highlights: sustainable homes
We're working with our suppliers and partners to make sustainable living easy and affordable for our customers around the world. A key focus for us is to provide information and advice to customers on simple, low cost solutions that help them reduce the environmental impact of their homes and save money.
B&Q UK eco shops
B&Q UK is introducing eco shops within its stores to provide a one-stop shop for customers looking for eco products, information and advice. It plans to have 1,700 qualified eco advisers in place by September 2010. The company is also trialling home eco audits and new eco installation services.
Castorama France Maison Éco
Castorama France is rolling out its Maison Éco (Eco House) campaign. Information is provided throughout the store – including a special merchandising display at the store entrance, posters in aisles and labels on individual eco products. It has also introduced an eco champion award for the best eco product sales team.
Group own-label eco brand
A new own-label eco brand has been created. We are now developing a range of Group-sourced eco products for the new brand. By using the Group's buying strength, we can drive innovation and reduce prices for customers.
Related content
Future Homes strategy
Sustainable homes
Sustainable stores
See more data
Highlights: sustainable stores and operations
Kingfisher is committed to leading by example, and is therefore working to embed sustainability into all aspects of its own operations.
We have made good progress over the past year in reducing the environmental impact of our stores. For example, we have reduced our total CO2 equivalent emissions (from energy and transport) by 8% and cut total store waste disposed by 10%. All our operating companies have action plans on energy, transport and waste to drive further progress.
Key strategic challenges
Consistent standards
As an international business, we need to ensure consistent ethical and environmental standards across all countries we operate in.
Our response: A comprehensive plan of sustainability actions that is delivered across the Group.
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable consumption is one of the key global challenges of today. As a retailer, we can play a part in encouraging a shift towards more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
Our response: Development of extensive eco product ranges, new eco services and a research project to address the sustainability of our wider product offer.
Sustainable timber
While Kingfisher is committed to sustainable sourcing of timber, we believe that regulation is needed to stamp out illegal timber in the wider marketplace as it distorts competition.
Our response: We have formed a Timber Retail Coalition with other major retailers to support EU-wide regulation to curb illegally harvested timber.
Snapshot of Group performance data in 2009/10
Goal 1: Our products & services
of timber volume from proven well-managed or recycled sources in 2009/10 – up from 72% the previous year
Goal 2: Our stores & operations
reduction in total CO2 equivalent emissions (from energy and transport)
reduction in total store waste disposed
Goal 3: Our customers
One Planet Home® products at B&Q UK
Maison Éco products at Castorama France
Goal 4: Our people
of employees are women
of managers are women
Goal 5: Our community
invested in charity / community projects
Goal 6: Our suppliers & partners
individuals in our supply chain attended training sessions on supplier ethical and environmental issues
Goal 7: Our economic growth
sales of eco products – accounting for 10% of total retail sales across the Group
For further details of progress, see group performance and operating company performance. Our CR Summary Report PDF (2.08Mb) also provides a six page overview of performance during 2009/10.
- Page last updated 31 May 2010.
- Note – This page is updated on an ongoing basis to reflect new developments. The latest Group performance data covers the Kingfisher financial year ending 30 January 2010 (referred to as 2009/10).
