How are we reducing our impact on the environment?
As a global business, we strongly feel the need to be proactive in the battle against climate change.
We’re constantly seeking new ways to improve our business practices and reduce our carbon footprint. In many of our stores, refits are rolling out that will improve our energy efficiency. New lighting, including store signs that have been successfully trialled, will help to reduce our energy use. We’ve introduced energy-awareness training for all our store staff, have reduced our air travel and are currently in the process of converting our car fleet to lower-emission models.
We’ve also made great strides in sourcing renewable energy wherever possible to run our offices, warehouses and stores around the world. In the UK alone, 65 per cent of our stores are on renewable energy contracts.
As long-term advocates for reducing waste, we’re now introducing plastic bottles made from 100 per cent recycled material. Our aim is to make all our PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles from this plastic – a staggering 30m bottles a year.
In 2008 we replaced all our carrier bags with 100 per cent recycled and recyclable paper bags. We still offer our Community Trade Bag for Life made from 100 per cent organically grown cotton. We’ve also increased the recycled content in our gift packaging.
