Kingfisher has been quick to recognise the potential to boost
profits through energy efficiency and by tapping into demand from
consumers for eco products. Core to its business philosophy is to
continually look for ways to minimise its environmental impact
while helping customers to do the same.
Kingfisher plc, the leading home improvement group, that owns
brands including B&Q and Screwfix, has been working with the
Carbon Trust since 2008 to put carbon management and green growth at the
heart of its business strategy. It is paying dividends. In 2010/11
sales of independently verified eco products reached £1.1 billion,
up 9% from the previous year and accounting for 10.5% of total
retail sales across the Group.
To date the Carbon Trust has worked with Kingfisher across its
operations, in eight countries, to help it become more energy
efficient, and ultimately become more profitable. Through our work
together Kingfisher has identified that through investment in
projects delivering high Internal Rates of Return (IRR), it will be
possible to reduce its relative carbon footprint, reduce its energy
costs and add to its bottom line.
The Carbon Trust has also been working with Kingfisher on
its longer term plans by focusing on four strategic
areas:
- Property innovation, for example, looking at leasing options;
store design and layout
- Green energy, for example, looking at more sustainable sources
of energy
- Reshaping the retail model, for example, looking at
different routes to market
- End-to-end products and services, for example, Kingfisher's One
Planet Home product range
Other areas in which we have worked together include the
development of biomass heating
projects for B&Q's 'off the gas grid' sites, as part of the
Carbon Trust's Biomass Heat Accelerator project.