Argos & Homebase on target with packaging reduction goals

Home Retail Group has said it is on track to meet a 15% packaging reduction target by the end of 2012 after revealing an 80% reduction in landfilled waste in the past five years.

Home Retail Group, which owns Argos and Homebase, last year signed up to the Home Improvement Sector Commitment and said the biggest changes were on own-brand products.

Corporate responsibility manager Laurence Singer said customers were demanding packaging reductions and the ability to recycle packaging. "Where we have got a direct influence on suppliers we can make things happen," he said.

Singer said the firm was looking to reduce packaging on toys and also highlighted the firm's reusable sofa bag that is set to save 1,800 tonnes of packaging a year.

Some 55% of Home Retail Group consumers that have large appliances delivered are using a scheme to return the packaging for recycling.

"Our distributors take unwanted packaging back to stores where it is disposed of with the packaging that we get from the waste generated in store. The last thing consumers want is packaging to dispose of," said Singer.

After reporting the 80% reduction in waste to landfill in the past five years – 87,000 tonnes to 13,000 tonnes – Home Retail Group has said it is targeting a further 25% reduction in the coming year.

Source : Simon Goldstein - Packagingnews.co.uk