Green Retail Part One

Green Retail

In our four-part series, we take a look at a number of furniture retailers and what they are doing in terms of sustainability. First up, DFS, Dunelm and ScS.

The topic of sustainability is not anything new but its importance is ever relevant and continues to grow. You may have seen a greater choice of sustainability-led products within the furniture industry over the past few years, from bottle-filled mattresses to fully recycled components at the core of new products. This is fantastic and long may it continue. Alongside product innovations, businesses are also adapting new ways of working to make their operations greener. As consumers are becoming more sustainabilityfocused in their purchase journey, it is important for all businesses to keep the eco-movement moving, growing and evolving.

In our four-part series, we take a look at a number of furniture retailers and what they are doing in terms of sustainability. It’s great if retailers are selling the eco-conscious product, but what are they themselves doing to drive a greener model? As consumers may just take a closer look at a retailer’s ecoefforts, and not solely focus on the product they are looking to buy. This article explores what some retail heavyweights are doing in this area as we focus on DFS, Dunelm and ScS.

Sustainability remains a key focus for the business and we have continued to make good progress.

DFS

Back in September 2020, sofa retailer DFS launched its ‘Sofa cycle’ initiative, a concept to embed constant sustainable practices across the business. Two years on, DFS said it has made ‘significant sustainability progress’.

As part of its long-term commitment to its sustainability goals, it has created a credible roadmap, with the first part of this journey to fully understand its carbon footprint. Tim Stacey, Group Chief Executive Officer at DFS, shares more on its progress to date: “We have made significant progress during the year, and are now able to report our total carbon footprint including Scope 3 emissions for the last four years. Although there are clearly specific challenges to the Group to overcome in order to become Net-Zero by 2040, we now have the data and foundations on which to build a credible plan. Across the Group we are developing innovative products to support our sustainable strategy.”

During the year, DFS launched its Grand Designs beds collection using only innovative and sustainable materials, while Sofology introduced the ‘Sustainability Edit’ collection, which includes a full recycled foam alternative, recycled fabrics and wooden frames from sustainable sources.

“We continue to invest in testing new materials and developing new innovative ranges with our key suppliers,” Tim said, adding: “This includes a partnership with Imperial College and the Royal Institute called the ‘Centre for Climate Change Innovation’, to address specific material challenges.

“We’ve incorporated sustainability KPIs into our revolving credit facility with a group of our relationship banks, ensuring coverage across both environmental and social areas. Our first measurement period was December 2021 and I’m pleased to report that all of our externally assured sustainability targets were achieved.”

Dunelm

Home furnishings retailer Dunelm has echoed that of DFS and has its own sustainability ambitions to be more ‘environmentally and socially responsible’ to its customers.

Part of this ambition has seen the birth of its ‘good and circular’ movement, which is intended to offer customers the opportunity to make ‘informed choices’, with the retailer increasing the number of products which meet its ‘more responsibly sourced’ standards.

Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer at Dunelm, explains: “Sustainability remains a key focus for the business and we have continued to make good progress during the year. In addition to The Edited Life, our lifestyle brand, which incorporates a variety of more sustainable materials and encourages reduced consumption, we have also recently launched ‘Conscious Choice’. “To be included in this selection of sustainably-focused own-brand lines, each product must be made from at least 50% more sustainable materials (by weight) compared to conventional alternatives, and will typically also offer an extended guarantee of between five and 25 years, with the products having been designed with durability in mind.”

In addition to product development, Dunelm has also reduced the volume of plastic packaging on its own-brand products, and, in December 2021, expanded an in-store textiles takeback scheme in more than 90% of stores nationwide and now covers more than 50% of own-brand products. This has seen ‘significant customer uptake’, Dunelm said.

Dunelm also has a number of partnerships in place to support its Net Zero Pathway, having joined the Aldersgate Group during the year, as well as continuing its collaborations with Textiles 2030 and the British Retail Consortium.

ScS

ScS says it’s committed to being a responsible business with its purpose ‘helping create the home you love’ focusing on offering customers a wide range of quality products at great value. As part of ensuring it acts responsibly, ScS is committed to ensuring that its products are sourced ethically and identifying ways in which it can minimise its impact on the environment.

Through its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, ScS has defined clear targets and sets out its sustainability roadmap which continues to evolve. Furthermore, the Group will publish its first report in line with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) requirements in the FY22 Annual Report.

“Although we are relatively early on our ESG journey, we have made great strides and are committed to driving further change,” ScS said. “We recognise that climate change is a complex topic which is developing at fast pace. During the first half of the year members of the senior management team undertook carbon literacy training. This helped to develop an understanding of climate-related risks, policy and legislation and highlight the potential impacts on the environment of the Group’s operational decisions.”

ScS’ sustainable efforts so far include operating with 100% renewable electricity and introducing electric vehicles into its fleet, only selling laminate and wooden flooring ranges that are made from responsibly sourced timber, which is certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and working with suppliers and the Leather Working Group, whom it joined in 2021, to ensure that leather is sourced from known, traceable or certified sources by July 2023.

Furthermore, ScS has increased sales of SpringBond underlay, where it has recently achieved the milestone of utilising more than one million recycled plastic bottles, with the Group targeting to achieve the two million milestone later this year.