Where are you seeing sustainability most integrated into the day‑to‑day strategy of the business?

Definitely the circular economy; it’s a really exciting proposition at Kingfisher that is gaining momentum. This means our retail banners offering new commercial propositions for customers, such as the resale of refurbished products at Screwfix and B&Q and trialling tool rental in Castorama Poland and France. It’s at the real heart of commercial decision making and sustainability, and it’s great for customers as it offers products at a more accessible price point and has the environmental benefits of reducing waste to landfill.

What have you learned from testing and piloting new approaches across the business over the last year?

Not everything will work in every market; it’s important to tailor approaches to local customer needs. We have a really successful small tool rental scheme in Castorama Poland; it’s incredibly popular with customers and colleagues and active in over 100 stores. In the UK, meanwhile, we’ve seen stronger demand for larger tool rental at B&Q, particularly from trade customers, which has led us to partner with Speedy Hire.

The whole Circular Economy agenda for us a real test and learn; being agile and making decisions about what is and isn’t working quickly is important. Our pilots have also highlighted the importance of having the right systems, processes and leadership engagement to scale what works.

What has most surprised or excited you as this work has gained momentum across teams and banners?

The dedication and enthusiasm from colleagues across the business. Our approach to circular economy has grown organically and really ramped up over recent years. Successful pilots have been driven by the creativity and passion of local teams, and working amongst that energy, willingness to learn from each other and innovate is incredibly motivating!