social responsibility at b&q annie johnson social responsibility manager
TRANSCRIPT
Social Responsibility at B&Q
Annie JohnsonSocial Responsibility Manager
Where did it all begin?
In 1991 a journalist called our then Marketing Director, Bill Whiting, where our tropical timber came from – We didn’t know the answer– The journalist said if we didn’t know e didn’t care– B&Q does care
Our Approach
Environment– Greener suppliers– Critical product areas
Ethical– Operational standards for factories
Diversity– Respecting our customers and staff
Community– Being a better neighbour in the communities around our
stores
Every product tells a story…
Product
Impacts
Product stewardship
Timber Peat Paint Chemicals
Safety of ‘every-day’ chemicals questioned NGO activity and media coverage Emotion and science Lack of information
Why Chemicals?
Timber
Over the last 14 years B&Q’s approach to responsible purchasing of timber as evolved
B&Q commissioned an independent review of timer certification schemes in 2004– This showed that FSC was the best scheme for B&Q to
ensure that our timber based products are from well managed sources
Timber
Approx 76% of wood based products sold by B&Q are FSC certified
We are working with a number of our suppliers to increase this percentage
We have previously accepted products certified under the Finnish Forest Certification Scheme – We are working with suppliers of Finnish timber over the next 3-5
years to ensure their products meet our standards
Timber
We also accept the following Products sourced from forests who have an MOU with the
Tropical Forest Trust– B&Q have a strategic partnership with TFT
• TFT work with suppliers of products containing tropical timber in gaining FSC certification
Products certified under the Indonesian scheme LEI
Timber – the benefits
Our research has shown that customers are reassured by seeing a label on product which states the wood is independently certified as from a well managed source
We came top in the Greenpeace league table for responsible garden furniture this year
Positive coverage in national newspapers Improving customer trust Ensuring the timber we need in 2010, 2030 and beyond
will be there
Safety of ‘every-day’ chemicals questioned NGO activity and media coverage Emotion and science Lack of information
Why Chemicals?
Costs of no action Customer trust at risk Supply chain visibility Product & brand integrity
Business case
‘DIY Detox’ strategy Understand and manage chemicals issues Based in science but includes ‘whole’
issues Integrated into supplier performance
assessment Audit of products
What is B&Q doing?
List 1 - For suppliers - ‘Do not use’ List 2 - For suppliers - ‘Use with
Caution’ For customers - ‘Guidance only’
B&Q Lists
Scope Stakeholder concerned Chemicals targeted for phase-out Hazardous chemicals Sensitizers and allergens Endocrine disruptors. PBT’s and VPVB’s
Scope
Paint
Contributes to atmospheric pollution Health Issues associated with paint B&Q Paint Labelling Scheme showing the levels
of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) contained in paint offers our customers an informed choice
Range of water-based alternatives Disposal Advice
Peat
Peat extraction can destroy habitats endangering species native to peat bogs
B&Q do not buy peat from SSSI’s (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) or International equivalent
Labelling strategy to ensure customers make an informed choice.
We offer a range of Organic ‘Peat Free’ alternatives B&Q’s dilution strategy
QUEST for Suppliers
QUEST - Quality, Ethics and Safety Environmental & Social Management Programme
introduced 1995 All suppliers assessed on 10 quality and
environment principals Through B&Q’s QUEST Programme all B&Q
suppliers have to have an environmental policy and action plan in place to address impacts including waste management and packaging
B&Q’s Packaging Standards
Eliminate excessive and unnecessary packaging Display packaging must be totally recyclable preferably made
of one material, or two totally separable materials and SPI Code
A high proportion of post consumer recycled waste must be used
All glues and inks must be solvent free and contain no heavy metals
Transit packaging must be designed to be easily recycled by our stores
QUEST for Stores
Environmental and Social Management Programme. Incorporates issues such as waste management,
energy efficiency, community interaction, Stores are striving to be ‘better neighbours’ in the
communities in which they operate and understand the needs of those communities.
Reflecting the local community. Stores are being externally assessed on these issues
through over a 3 year period – started July 2003
Our wagons no longer return empty
Timber, plastics, metal and cardboard backhauled to one of ten regional consolidation centres across the country
In 2003 B&Q recycled:– Wood 18,000 tons– Cardboard 14,000 tons– Plastic 1,500 tons– MDF and Chip 1,000 tons– Metal 1,000 tons.
New POS
New POS
Community Schemes
Better Neighbour Grant– Offers up to £500 of materials to local projects– Over 2,000 grants awarded to-date
Waste Donation– Waste materials and unsaleable goods
Yearly ‘You can Do It’ awards– £500,000 awarded to over 100 projects
Match It– B&Q match amount raised by staff to max of £500
