B&Q’s 2025 Build a Life Report Highlights Sustainability Progress

• B&Q has released its second Build A Life Project Annual Report, revealing its key responsible business targets and measures from 2024/25.  

The report highlights the progress being made to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and cements B&Q’s aim to reach net zero by 2040 for Scope 1 and 2, and by 2050 for Scope 3. 

Details:

The report outlines B&Q’s focus on two pillars – people and planet – and its holistic approach to helping make better homes for everyone, responsibly.

B&Q’s focus for the planet is on reducing impact by leveraging opportunities arising from the circular economy, helping customers have more efficient homes and lowering emissions as the business advances toward cleaner, more sustainable stores and logistics.

• In 2024/25 B&Q achieved a 66.3% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions across its operations since 2016/17 and a 57% reduction in Scope 3 emissions per million pounds turnover from the supply chain and customer use of products since 2017/18.

• In 2024/25, 99% of the electricity purchased by B&Q came from renewable sources, with the company’s total energy use falling by 34% over the past 10 years; and by de-carbonising our logistics network, our logistics carbon footprint has reduced by 45% since 2016.

• Some 64.7% of products that B&Q sells now have more sustainable features and/or deliver more sustainable benefits to customers. This has been achieved in partnership with suppliers as well as by increasing reuse of resources, such as through the ‘Refurb by B&Q’ refurbished tools range.

• Over 30 years after being a founding member of the Forest Stewardship Council, 99.8% of the wood and paper used in B&Q products is responsibly sourced. One in four of the products B&Q sells, contains wood, paper or cardboard.

B&Q’s commitment to people focuses on strengthening the communities it serves by working with charity partners to empower colleagues to use their time and expertise to make a positive difference; as well as by creating a culture where everyone can feel they belong and colleagues can thrive.

• B&Q donated over £3.4million to charities in 2024/25 and over 600,000 people benefited from B&Qs community programmes and partnerships. This includes:

• £2.1 million donated to the B&Q Foundation which supports registered charities with grants to improve homes and community spaces for those who need it most. 

• Partnering with Shelter to raise funds and also awareness of the plight of children in temporary accommodation. B&Q raised £1.1 million for the charity, including £550,000 through its Christmas campaign in December alone.

• Over 2,500 colleagues have completed or are undertaking apprenticeships at B&Q, including in 2024/25 over 200 colleagues who completed apprenticeships. In 2025, in partnership with Apprentify, B&Q built a Women in Leadership programme, designed by women for women, to encourage, enhance and accelerate the careers of women. Over 34 women are signed up to the Women in Leadership course this year.    

As B&Q continues to evolve, it remains committed to operating responsibly. The annual Build a Life Project report provides a framework to track progress, amplify areas of excellence and identify opportunities for improvement. 

Joanna Gluzman, B&Q’s Director of Responsible Business, commented: 

“This year, we have moved to a more holistic, people-first approach to responsible business, whether that be with colleagues, people in our supply chain, or customers. We’re setting ambitious yet realistic objectives to track progress annually, focusing on sustainability, employee engagement, and supplier collaboration to help us to reduce our environmental impact and to promote social well-being. 

“We’ve continued to make progress against our targets - from electrifying parts of our stores and logistics networks to offering more sustainable home products. Our strategy in 2024/25 focused on three key pillars: empowering employees as advocates, delivering on our net zero target and enabling more sustainable consumption for our customers. Together, these are helping drive our growth and long-term impact.”

Please see the full report here.

Source : B&Q

Image : B&Q

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