DIY trade bodies EDRA/GHIN have announced the sector’s Scope 3 emissions reduction strategy and roadmap at a global summit in Rome.
On Wednesday (12 June), leaders from across the global DIY sector met in Italy for their annual conference – and sustainability was high on the list of topics.
Corporate sustainability and decarbonisation consultancy, Ricardo, has worked with the sector to put in place the Scope 3 emissions reduction targets. Scope 3 emissions are the predominant carbon emissions for retailers in general, but for the home improvement retail sector, specifically, they account for more than 90% and usually fall outside of individual retailers’ direct operational control.
The feeling goes that by working towards a joint plan, the inconsistencies that can occur when businesses look to embark on their own decarbonisation journeys alone are less likely to materialise.
At the summit, EDRA/GHIN and Ricardo published their ‘Scope 3 Accounting Guide and Strategy Document’, with the aim of helping retailers on their Scope 3 reporting journey. The guide introduces readers to carbon accounting, understanding carbon emissions, and specifically Scope 3 accounting, as well as the different categories of Scope 3 emissions.
They have also launched the ‘Home Improvement Suppliers Scope 3 Taskforce’. This will mirror the EDRA/GHIN Scope 3 Taskforce – but be focused on suppliers, initially bringing 11 DIY sector suppliers together.
This week’s announcement of an industry-wide sustainability strategy comes a year on from EDRA/GHIN president and Kingfisher CEO, Thierry Garnier, and the trade bodies general secretary, John Herbert, launching a taskforce on the subject. Since then, the group has developed more consistent methodologies in how carbon data is treated through the DIY supply chain – and reporting best practice has been shared widely.
“Only through working together can we begin to tackle the accelerated climate change we are seeing across our planet,” explained Herbert.
“This is a call to action to the entire industry to come together now and engage, challenge and inspire one another.”
Garnier added: “Now is the time for action and I would encourage everyone in our industry to commit and get involved. By coming together to take on the critical Scope 3 challenge, we can forge a path towards a future that is low-emissions, positive for our businesses and our planet.”
Jamie Pitcairn, technical director, corporate sustainability at Ricardo, who led the Scope 3 Taskforce, commented: “The members of EDRA/GHIN understood that by working together the global home improvement retail sector can accelerate decarbonisation across the value chain and achieve significant emission reductions at scale.”
It was also announced in Rome that OBI, one of the founding members of the EDRA/GHIN Scope 3 Taskforce, has shared its commitment to both the Scope 3 Taskforce targets and Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Kesko and Kingfisher have previously set near-term targets to carbon reduction and had these approved by the SBTi.
Three other founding members, Intergamma, Lowe’s, and Maxeda DIY Group have officially committed to setting science-based targets.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
