Home Depot joins global taskforce
The Home Depot joined a global taskforce to tackle the problem of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. The taskforce was organized by the European DIY Retail Association and the Global Home Improvement Network (EDRA/GHIN).
In sustainability circles, as described by the GHG Protocol, there are three types of greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 1 emissions come directly from an organization. Scope 2 are indirect emissions (think electricity to light stores). Scope 3 emissions are those that occur beyond the control of an organization.
For retailers, Scope 3 emissions encompass those that come from the retailers’ supply chains, and those that come from the products that were purchased in a store and used in and around the home, for instance.
Interesting fact about Scope 3: they account for 90 percent of a typical retailer’s overall emissions, according to stats highlighted by EDRA/GHIN
These global trade bodies for home improvement retailers recently launched a taskforce to reduce these emissions.
The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, is participating as a founding member of the taskforce.
Other founding members are: Adeo (Europe, South America, South Africa) Bunnings (Australia & New Zealand); Cainz (Japan); Hornbach (Europe); Kesko (Scandinavia); Kingfisher plc (UK & Europe); OBI (Europe) and Sodimac (South America).
“Climate change is a threat none of us can afford to ignore,” said John Herbert, general secretary of EDRA/GHIN “For home improvement retailers, this is a positive move where we can help them find ways to come together to address one of the fundamental environmental issues for our planet, while developing their business.”
There are a range of different approaches and methods used to measure and report on companies’ Scope 3 carbon footprints. This causes confusion and inefficiencies for retailers trying to lower their emissions across their value chains and creates an additional burden on their suppliers— the home improvement product manufacturers, according to EDRA/GHIN.
The EDRA/GHIN Scope 3 taskforce will aim to address this challenge by agreeing more consistent methodologies in how carbon data is treated through the supply chain and sharing best practices in both the reporting and, most importantly, accelerating the home improvement sector’s progress in reducing Scope 3 emissions. These learnings will also be shared with a wider learning group for all EDRA/GHIN members to benefit from, the group said.
EDRA/GHHIN includes 224 retail companies in 78 countries. The taskforce was launched at the 9th Global DIY Summit in Berlin.
“What makes EDRA/GHIN unique is that we really can bring together so much of the world of home improvement to unite around this common threat,” Herbert said.
Thierry Garnier, President of EDRA/GHIN and Group CEO of Kingfisher, invited. Home improvement retailers around the world to get onboard.
“As retailers, reducing emissions in how our products are made and used is our biggest challenge,” he said. “But it’s also an opportunity. Many of the products we sell help customers afford to create better homes that are more resource efficient, using less energy and water. While a number of EDRA/GHIN members have been working on measuring and addressing their Scope 3 impacts in their own businesses, it is a highly complex area with many shared challenges.”
