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As part of its comprehensive environment strategy, B&Q has launched a range of water efficient products, bringing them to the UK mass market for the first time. Water efficiency is easy to achieve and B&Q is aiming to help consumers understand how they can contribute and make a difference. It is not widely known that the UK has less available water per person than almost every other European country. London is drier than Istanbul, and the South East of England has less water available per person than the Sudan and Syria. Water is also scarce in parts of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and even the Lake District. Large scale drought is occurring in the UK, with the lowest rainfall, groundwater and reservoir levels for decades. As the summers continue to grow hotter and drier, it is essential that consumers and businesses become more actively involved in water conservation and efficiency.
The key to water-efficiency is reducing waste, not restricting use. Consumers can help reduce waste by making small behavioural changes such as mending leaks, not leaving taps running and by choosing more water efficient products.
• While it is raining regularly, it is the right time for people to start collecting rainwater in water butts, ready to use during the drier months
• Saving water makes good economic sense and has environmental and social benefits
• Water efficiency can save a third of water consumption. And when combined with rainwater harvesting savings can reach 50%
Water efficiency does not have to be expensive and B&Q’s new range of water-saving products varies from underground water butts to ‘click save’ taps that greatly reduce the flow of water. B&Q is encouraged that customers are increasingly looking for environmentally friendly products and our water efficient range is just part of a whole product offering designed to give consumers more choice.
B&Q has a long history of innovation and leadership in the field of social responsibility and has been recognised for its achievements in this area. As part of its bid to help consumers understand the importance of water efficiency, B&Q is working in partnership with Waterwise, an independent not-for-profit UK NGO focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK. In association with Waterwise, the B&Q is also launching a simple guide for consumers outlining easy and low-cost tips for reducing water wastage in the UK.
B&Q has been actively monitoring its water consumption since 2003 and has a target of reducing mains use in the total store estate by 10% (to 366 litres per m2 of internal retail floor space) by the end of 2008, compared to a 2003/04 baseline of 406.6 litres.
Ian Cheshire, chief executive of B&Q, said: “This is a long-term issue – climate change means that the whole of the UK can expect more floods and droughts. B&Q has been committed to helping consumers reduce their impact on the environment since the early 1990s and working together with knowledgeable partners like Waterwise, we’re able to affect real long-term change rather than looking for quick fixes. We are responding to a genuine consumer interest in environmental issues by helping everyone to see that taking a few simple steps they can save money and the environment, at the same time.”
Jacob Tompkins, Director, Waterwise, said: “Because we live in a rainy country, we can be forgiven for not fully understanding the importance of water efficiency. Each person in the UK currently uses about 150 litres of water every day. This consumption level is not sustainable in the long-term and if we do not take action now, climate change, population shifts and behaviour mean the UK will face increased water stress in the future. We are pleased to be working in partnership with B&Q; their experience of retailing environmentally responsible products is invaluable to the cause.”
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Notes to Editors
For further information please contact:
Verity Lowe, Hill & Knowlton, Tel: 020 7413 3434 or
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Sally Domingo, Hill & Knowlton, Tel: 020 7413 3519 or
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B&Q’s environmental and social responsibility track record
In November 2006, B&Q gave evidence at The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee hearing into climate change, with extensive experience in selling environmentally-efficient products to the mass market, B&Q was the only high-street retailer asked to give evidence.
As one of the leading UK retailers, B&Q recognises that its commitment to the environment extends beyond merely products. Ian Cheshire, Chief Executive of B&Q, is a member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change which brings together major business leaders to lobby Government on the need to develop new and longer-term policies for tackling climate change. Business and Government must make it even easier to reduce environmental impact, whether that means educating consumers or offering more solutions. Retailers need to pioneer the field and help to generate customer interest in products that benefit the environment. B&Q feels that Government could be using its influence at the European level to remove tax and legislative barriers, and remove the VAT on environmentally-friendly products.
B&Q UK was one of the earliest pioneers of sustainable development in the early 1990s. It works hard to ensure that its stores, practices and products have the lowest possible effect on the environment, is committed to ethical sourcing of products, and raising awareness among customers of the benefits of using products with a lower environmental impact through the sale of sustainable products.
Water facts
Internationally:
• Less than 1% of the Earth’s water is available for our use. 97% is saltwater, 3% is freshwater and of that around 2% is locked in the Earth’s icecaps.
• By 2025 two thirds of the world’s people will be facing water stress. Global demand for water will have grown by over 40% by then.
• Internationally headlines around the world demonstrate that this is a global issue and it is getting worse ie: ‘Drought slows Australia’s economy’ (Dec 06); ‘Warning signs on Kenya’s drought road’ (Nov 06); ‘Canada fights to keep its water’ (Sept 06)
In the UK:
• Over the past few years South East of England has experienced the worst drought for a century. This is an indication of the impact of climate change and in the future there will be more floods and droughts. In addition, new housing programmes in the South East needed to cope with population shifts will place further pressure on the water supply network.
• Water is scarce in parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well as in England - large scale drought is already occurring in the UK, with the lowest rainfall, groundwater and reservoir levels for decades.
• Southern Ireland has been experiencing exceptional drought for the past three years and housing development in Dublin has been constrained by concerns over water.
About B&Q
• B&Q is the largest home improvement and garden centre retailer in the UK and Europe employing over 38,000 people nation-wide, 24% of whom are over 50 years of age. Across the UK, B&Q has 331 stores, including 116 B&Q Warehouses. B&Q is part of Kingfisher plc, the world’s third largest home improvement retailer with over 680 stores in 11 markets in Europe and Asia. These include over 50 B&Q stores in China, including B&Q Beijing, which is now the largest B&Q store in the world.
• B&Q was a supporter of the “Climate Clinic” at each of the three main party conferences in September/October 2006 by donating products and plants for display purposes. The Climate Clinic is an alliance including RSPB, Friends of the Earth, WWF, Energy Saving Trust, Greenpeace, Transport 2000, REA, LowCVP, Stop Climate Chaos, Woodland Trust, PRASEG, Micropower Council, New Economics Foundation, British Wind Energy Association, Combine Heat & Power Association, and the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
• For more information about B&Q please go to www.diy.com/aboutus.
• For more information about B&Q’s social responsibility Key Performance Indicators, please see www.kingfisher.com, B&Q’s parent company.
About Waterwise
• Waterwise is a UK NGO focussed on decreasing water consumption in the UK by 2010 and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency.
• Waterwise is an independent, not for profit organisation that receives funding from the UK water industry and from sponsorship and consultancy work. Waterwise sits on the UK Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and regulators.
• Waterwise works with key partners in the water companies, governments (UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and local governments), manufacturers, retailers, NGOs, environmentalists, regulators, agriculture, business, domestic consumers and the media.
• The Waterwise Marque was founded in October 2006 which is the first award scheme of its kind in the UK. The Marque is awarded annually to water using products which highlight water efficiency or reduce water wastage.
• Waterwise provide information and assistance to households, businesses, media and the government amongst others.
• Waterwise have ranked all dishwashers and washing machines by water efficiency.
• For more information please visit http://www.waterwise.org.uk/
• Waterwise working with nine other NGOs has produced a Blueprint for water showing how water efficiency is a key element of water resource management. This document is intended to shape UK water policy over the next ten years. For more information visit www.blueprintforwater.org.uk
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