Kingfisher has emissions goals approved by Science Based Targets initiative

Home improvement retailer has had goals to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22% and emissions from purchased goods, services and the use of sold products by 40% approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).


Kingfisher has emissions goals approved by Science Based Targets initiative

At its B&Q distribution centre in Swindon

Kingfisher has committed to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22% by 2025 from a 2016 baseline and emissions from purchased goods and services and the use of sold products by 40% per £1m turnover by 2025 from a 2017 baseline.

The SBTi has approved the targets, which align to the Paris Agreement’s ambition to limit global temperature increase to no more than 2C.

Kingfisher’s sustainability director, offer and sourcing, Gemma Brierley said: “The great thing about our targets is that we’ll be cutting carbon emissions by helping customers improve their homes.

“This will include launching new products and services that help customers save energy and reduce their fuel bills. We’ll also be working closely with suppliers to achieve direct cuts in emissions, to reduce emissions associated with materials such as cement and plastic and to continue to remove peat from the soils and composts we sell.” 

Sustainable Growth Plan

The targets build on the retailer’s Sustainable Growth Plan. The plan features headline goals of achieving 50% of the group’s sales by 2020 from products that “actively make customers’ homes more sustainable” and to become a Net Positive business by 2050.

Kingfisher’s focus on its customers has led to an estimated 32% reduction in home energy use. More than 90% of all light bulbs sold by the retailer are LED.

The company has launched a zero-energy store in the UK fitted with battery storage technology, with more planned in 2019.

As well as sourcing 100% renewable electricity for its UK operations, Kingfisher has turned to energy storage reduce the site grid power consumption. At its B&Q distribution centre in Swindon, for example, Kingfisher currently sources 3.5MW of renewable energy to power the centre each year – mainly from the grid. Battery storage has been deployed at the site to reduce grid reliance.

As of the end of 2018, Kingfisher has invested more than £10m in onsite renewables.

Matt Mace

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