Screwfix has reduced its direct carbon emissions, scope 1 and 2, by 50% since 2021/22 despite growing from 790 stores to more than 900 stores.
In 2021, Screwfix’s direct carbon emissions measured more than 23,000 tonnes, in 2022 it was 18,900 tonnes, and by the end of 2023 it had decreased to less than 11,000 tonnes.
According to a company statement, the fall in direct carbon is driven by a move away from fossil fuel heating to air source heat pumps in over 639 stores, with more added every month, and a transition to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in delivery vehicles across 85% of the fleet. Made from 100% waste materials, HVO is an alternative fuel that uses renewable feedstocks and food wastes, including cooking oil.
The retailer said that is committed to replacing fossil fuel heating in all stores and transitioning the remainder of the delivery fleet to HVO, to halve its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions again within the next two years.
Screwfix is also now working to measure and reduce indirect and product related scope 3 emissions.
Screwfix’s sustainability strategy, ‘Let’s Fix Tomorrow, Today’, launched in 2021, with the trade retailer pledging to eliminate carbon emissions, reduce and recycle waste, source responsibly, keep products in use for longer, sell sustainable products and provide sustainable packaging.
Sales of refurbished products reached £2m last year and Screwfix is planning to double its refurb operation this year, investing a further £1,000,000 into its distribution centre at Stafford. This is set to enable the refurbishment of water-based products and high value non-electrical products, the company added.
In 2023, Screwfix labelled more than 1,500 products with its Green Star, highlighting options with a lower environmental impact and making it easier for customers to shop sustainably. The number of Green Star products are predicted to double to more than 3,000 by Summer 2024, it noted.
This month, Screwfix celebrated its first SustainFest with its colleagues, with activities, supplier visits and talks at its Yeovil head office and across its 900 stores.