Monday, 22nd August 2011
Euro MP in Ayr to see sustainable future of DIY retail
Responding to an invitation from Kingfisher PLC, Europe’s leading home improvement retail group and the third largest in the world, Struan Stevenson, Conservative Euro MP for Scotland, visited the B&Q Store in Sanquhar Farm Road, Ayr on Friday 19th August for a view of the sustainable future of DIY retailing.
Mr Stevenson, who chairs the large Parliamentary Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development in the European Parliament, was shown the cutting-edge work undertaken by B&Q to slash greenhouse gas emissions and achieve sustainability in timber sourcing and recycling. He was given a tour of the store by General Manager Brian Dougan and HR Manager Dorothy Handling.
Speaking following the tour, Mr Stevenson said:
“I was deeply impressed by the way B&Q is leading the retail trade in cutting electricity and fuel use and lowering CO2 emissions. The Ayr store used to send five big skips a week to landfill, but now over 80% of its waste is recycled and soon they will cut landfill waste to zero. They ensure that all timber is sourced only from sustainable outlets and they are dramatically cutting down on packaging, to reduce waste even further.
“B&Q is a major employer and of vital importance to the Ayrshire economy. They have 70 staff in the Ayr store, more than a quarter of which are over 50 years of age, many with years of experience in the company. Across the UK, B&Q employs more than 34,000 people, so their cutting edge role in environmental sustainability, training staff in home energy efficiency and other key skills, is of huge significance in the fight against climate change.
“B&Q is passing on their knowledge and skills to the public, through the sale of sustainable timber, subsidised loft insulation material and things like new, energy-efficient light bulbs which are replacing the old incandescent lamps. I congratulate them on their campaigning role and hope other major retailers will follow their example.”
ENDS
Notes:
1. Struan Stevenson is a Conservative Euro MP for Scotland. He is President of the Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development Intergroup of more than 200 MEPs.
2. The attached image shows Struan Stevenson, MEP with Brian Dougan and Dorothy Handling, next to rolls of loft insulation material made from re-cycled plastic bottles, outside B&Q’s Ayr Store, 19 August 2011.
3. For further information, please contact Peter Smyth on 0131 554 1146 or 07766 166 637 or email peter@indigopr.com.
