Argos corporate news
Argos ‘Cares’ for the environment
02 August 2007
Argos has recently launched a staff campaign which will reinforce its commitment to environmental improvements. With the aim of actively engaging colleagues through increased knowledge and awareness of the environment, the challenge, called Cares, will work towards promoting efficiencies in store thereby reducing energy use and waste to landfill.
Each store will take on the responsibility of encouraging each other to save on waste and think of new ways they can make a difference to the environment. The Cares stores initiative completes the circle of recycling with separation of the waste stream and making the back-haul to distribution centres easier.
With all distribution centres now ready to recycle all material returned, stores are being asked to segregate their ‘waste’ and return it to their distribution centre. Waste items which can be returned include: cardboard, paper, metal, plastic, wood, carrier bags, clothes/uniforms, catalogues and flyers. Ultimately the scheme aims to embed the environmental message in everyday practices.
Charles Drewe, sustainability manager for Argos, said: “This is one of many programmes to catch the imagination of our store staff and lead to improvements in overall company waste targets. Many stores already have good working practices in place and this scheme will enable the most successful processes to be shared throughout the network.
“The whole process is helping toward the company achieving an aspirational goal of sending zero waste to landfill by the end of 2010,” he added.
Steve Hare, recycling manager at Basildon distribution centre, said: “Last month Basildon recycled 185 tonnes of cardboard alone which was six 40ft lorries carrying a total of 396 mill size bales. In addition, 11˝ tonnes of soft plastics which is one 40ft lorry carrying 21 mill size bales!”
Argos distribution centres in Corby, Basildon and Bridgwater distribution have already been awarded ISO14001 accreditation for their Environmental Management System (EMS), and Home Retail Group is committed to two of its distribution centres per annum achieving attainment. The ISO14001 is an internationally respected standard for environmental management.
Last year, Home Retail Group, parent company of Argos, recycled over 40% of the waste it generated (mainly cardboard packaging). This compares to 26% in the previous year.
Customers are being encouraged to recycle too, with the launch of the new Autumn/Winter catalogue on Saturday 28th July 2007. Customers will see two pages, 542 and 543, dedicated to a variety of products which can help to make recycling simpler at home.
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