B&Q - Credit where it’s due
There are some people who would argue that a company that generally plants it’s massive stores on retail parks and such like, can never be truly ‘green’. They would question their motives - are they real or is it just greenwash? Good question.
I reckon though, that DIY retailer B&Q does deserve some credit - I can remember being asked to take part in survey on environmental issues as I left a B&Q store, and that was over 15 years ago. Since then, they have become one of the founders of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) - the most widely recognised assurance that wood has come from sustainable sources, one of the first DIY stores to offer and promote low VOC paints and the first to offer domestic solar water heating panels and wind turbines. OK, the wind turbine has turned into a bit of a white elephant for them, but they did try!
Their latest catalogue that dropped through my door (yes, junk mail) is focussed on energy efficiency and has some interesting items.
In amongst all the insulation products, they have ‘Eco-Wool’ - made from 85% recycled plastic bottles and totally itch-free. As a top-up for existing loft insulation, this is a great way to re-use a throw-away product.
ThermaHelp hemp wrap insulation - made from 40% sustainable hemp (and growing hemp is really, really sustainable). The wrap insulation is quite thin but very efficient. Expensive, but are offering ‘buy one get one free’.
Hemp loft board panels - a great alternative to ‘chipboard’ panels and about half the weight too.
Breathe - natural hemp insulation made from British-grown hemp. An ideal top-up to existing loft insulation.
They are still ‘plugging’ the Windsave domestic wind turbine, despite the many media reports that some customers are not experiencing anywhere near the electricity savings claimed by the company (due in part to the fact that wind turbines affixed to a dwelling generally don’t perform well in the turbulent air around a building).
There are several types of solar water heating systems, which generally make much more sense for people than wind-turbines and can achieve real savings.
So there you have it - B&Q may not be perfect, but they are bringing these products to a much wider audience than smaller, specialist companies are able to and even if they don’t sell that well, at least Joe Public is being exposed to all this each time he/she walks into a B&Q store.
I say, well done B&Q, but don’t stop there - this is just the beginning.
Jlidi says:
Dear Mr Martin,
I permit myself to contact you concerning hemp loft board panel. Do B&Q still selling this product? If yes at which prices and is it possible to send information about the product? Otherwise is it possible to tell me the reasons why they stopp selling such green product. I know they were selling it few months ago at a price of 10£.
Looking forward to a quick reply.
Cordially
June 13th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Martin says:
The last time I looked, they did have some of these, but you would need to check yourself. You should contact B&Q for further information on their products and confirm prices. I got the information in the article from a leaflet at B&Q. You get get in contact via their website http://www.diy.com
June 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm