Six of the most prominent UK DIY retailers and brands sign agreement to reduce packaging and waste to landfill.
The voluntary initiative led by Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP), saw Wickes, B&Q, Homebase, Argos, Focus and Henkel yesterday agree to work together for the first time to achieve a 15% packaging reduction and a 50% reduction in waste to landfill by the end of 2012, against a 2007 baseline. The companies will also look at ways of helping customers recycle more.

WRAP ceo Dr Liz Goodwin said: "WRAP applauds the leadership that these companies have shown. This collective pledge by the UK's leading home improvement retailers signals a concerted and consistent approach to delivering significant reductions in packaging and waste to landfill - while helping customers make positive choices and recycle more.

She added: "We encourage other home improvement retailers and brands to sign up."

The launch of the new agreement follows the Government's new UK packaging strategy, Making the Most of Packaging.

The commitment within the home improvement industry will focus on reducing packaging through improved design and dealing with problematic packaging and product areas. The aim is to create less bulky alternatives, which are easier to open and easier to recycle.

B&Q packaging design manager Jonathan Couper said of the new initiative: "B&Q has been leading the way on environmental issues since the early 1990s, with initiatives in areas like timber, peat, paint, chemicals and packaging so we are really pleased to be involved in this new voluntary agreement with WRAP."

The Kingfisher-owned retailer developed reusable carrierpacs for its kitchen worktops, saving more than £1m a year on packaging costs and reducing 1,200 tonnes of cardboard from its waste stream each year.

Mr Couper continued: "We are using these learnings to see where they can be applied elsewhere in the business and we look forward to working with WRAP under the new agreement to see how we can further reduce our own impact on the environment ad that of our customers.

Last year Wickes set itself an internal target to reduce packaging tonnage by 20% by 2013 from 2008. It now sends primary wood, plastic and cardboard packaging from all 193 of its stores for re-use or recycling.

Wickes group environment manager Jez Cutler said: "Wickes is delighted to be involved in this voluntary agreement with WRAP... We recognise that a sector approach can deliver the best results and look forward to working with WRAP and involving our key supply chain partners to realise our commitment."

Henkel managing director Simon Duggan-Hall commented: "We are committed to the implementation of an environmental policy, which goes beyond compliance with the law and which will integrate sound environmental practices into our business decisions and management activities, so as to ensure that they are acceptable to the community.

"To achieve this aim, our management is fully committed to support the reduction of packaging and waste to landfill and we continue to work with our large DIY customers in all channels to identify and maximise the reduction in packaging and reduce our impact on the environment."