We are committed

We published our Responsible Business Report on 15th June, it covers a time when the pandemic disrupted almost every aspect of our lives. It is sobering to consider that despite the enormity of the Covid-19 crisis, it is just one among many social, economic and environmental challenges. Issues such as climate change, inequality, mental health and housing standards – to name a few – all require urgent action. 

We are committed to playing our part, and at the heart of our strategic plan, 'Powered by Kingfisher', there is a commitment to lead the industry in Responsible Business practices.  

Despite the upheaval of last year, thanks to the determination and commitment of all our colleagues across our retail banners, we have made significant progress with our Responsible Business priorities:

Making greener, healthier homes affordable - 42% of our sales came from products that help create a more sustainable home – from LED lighting to chemical-free gardening products, to water-efficient taps and energy-efficient power tools. 

Fixing unfit housing in our communities - Since 2016/2017, we have supported almost 800,000 people whose housing needs are greatest. Our charity partnerships and the launch of our network of charitable foundations will help us further accelerate our progress. We have now increased our ambition to help more than two million by 2025.

Tackling climate change & becoming forest positive - We have already cut our carbon emissions by 27% over the last four years. So, in 2020 we made our carbon reduction target more ambitious, so that it aligns with the 1.5°C scenario set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. 

We’ve also been committed to the responsible sourcing of wood and paper for 30 years. Now we are going further, aiming to be ‘Forest Positive’ – to create more forest than we use by 2025. 

Becoming a more inclusive company - Being diverse and having differences enriches our company and makes us better. We have more to do to become truly representative of the communities in which we operate. Our Board approved our ‘Inclusion and Diversity’ strategy in 2020, each of our banners is driving an inclusivity action plan now.

We will make further progress on our Responsible Business priorities. We’d love to hear your thoughts about our plans and what more we can do. 

Thierry