Corporate Responsibility

As the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer, the way we do business has a big impact on the lives of our customers, communities and our colleagues. It’s why we’ve called our approach to corporate responsibility ‘the basis of good business’. Our responsible business principles on social, ethical and environmental issues are not one-off initiatives or publicity stunts. They are simply the way we do business. Always.

Our five principles of good business are

1.    Keeping clean and green – reducing the impact our business has on the environment
2.    Shopping for tomorrow – helping our customers live more sustainable lives
3.    Sourcing with care – sourcing the best products while minimising our social and        environmental impacts
4.    Building a great place to work – making this a business our colleagues are proud to work        for
5.    Being a good neighbour – supporting the communities we live and work in


We ensure that the products we sell are manufactured, packaged and shipped in an ethical manner. For example, all wood used in garden furniture is either certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, or comes from suppliers who are members of the WWF Global Forest and Trade Network. We also work with the jewellery industry to support responsible mining and to avoid “conflict diamonds”.

Home Retail Group has 1,094 stores, 17 distribution centres, 3 contact centres, 1,296 vehicles and 52,300 colleagues serving over 3 million customers every week, so our responsible approach makes a big impact.

Carbon reduction - we’ve achieved the independent Carbon Standard Trust certification for all our operations and have reduced our carbon footprint by over 46,000 tonnes in the last five years.

Landfill reduction - we’ve reduced landfill waste by 80% over the last five years by using less product packaging and increasing recycling rates.

Customers - our energy efficient and home insulation products help them take action to reduce their energy bills and their impact on the environment.

Colleagues - every one of our 52,300 colleagues is encouraged to build a rewarding career with us.

Suppliers - we’re working directly with over 1,400 factories worldwide.

Communities - we raised over £3m for our previous charity partner (British Heart Foundation). Our charity partner for 2010-12 is Teenage Cancer Trust.

Find out more at www.thebasisofgoodbusiness.com