Message from our Chief Executive
"...by tackling the issues methodically and with resolve, we are making good progress..."
Terry Duddy, Chief Executive
Welcome
Welcome to our second corporate responsibility report. There has been a new enthusiasm for corporate responsibility in the retail sector this year, driven by growing consumer interest. Yet we have been engaged with the topic for many years and this report shows how we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to be a responsible retailer.
Corporate responsibility presents us with a very wide agenda. It touches almost every aspect of our business, from manufacturing in our suppliers’ factories to the impact of products in our customers’ homes. We recognise that doing things right takes time, energy and resources and that the choices are not always easy. We tackle the issues methodically, proposing solutions and making changes once we believe they will work and can be backed by practical plans and budgets.
We have focused this year on our customers and our people. Research has shown us our customers want clear information and products that will help them to make responsible choices. For our colleagues, we aim to provide an excellent working environment with training and development that will nurture the talent we need to succeed in the future.
We also actively support community and charity projects. This delivers clear benefits for the groups and communities we support but also for our colleagues, who enjoy supporting worthwhile causes.
Climate change continues to make headlines. Our response is to steadily drive down our use of energy and fuel, reducing our CO2 emissions and costs in the process. We have reduced our carbon footprint this year by improving the efficiency of energy use in our buildings, cutting emissions from our transport fleet and increasing our use of renewable energy. We’re also minimising the waste we generate and finding more ways to recycle it. We have had notable success in reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill by 29%. We now recycle over half of all the waste we produce.
These can be challenging and complex matters. However, through the focus, application and resolve that define the culture of Home Retail Group, we will continue to make good progress.
Terry Duddy, Chief Executive
