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We assume responsibility for our environment

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HomeResponsibilityOur Environment

We assume responsibility for our environment

At HORNBACH, environmental sustainability focuses on conserving resources. To put it somewhat bluntly, the greenest energy is the energy we don’t use. The best material is the one we don’t use for construction and maintenance. The best delivery routes are the ones we can cancel or shorten. In addition, we aim to return the building materials, waste, and recyclables we use to the materials cycle.

“What is often referred to colloquially as sustainability is for HORNBACH simply a matter of responsibility. In times of global warming and the energy turnaround, we aim to make our contribution towards protecting our environment.”

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We are reducing our CO2 emissions

HORNBACH is committed to combating climate change and assuming responsibility for the emissions directly or indirectly arising due to its operations. The major share of the CO2 emissions we can directly influence relate to the operation of our retail outlets and logistics locations. We measured the CO2 footprint of the HORNBACH Group’s stores and logistics centers, as well as of the vehicles and facilities we operate ourselves (Scopes 1 and 2), for the first time for the 2021/22 financial year.

The main way to reduce CO2 emissions from operations at our own stores and logistics centers is to cut energy consumption. In recent years, HORNBACH already generated substantial energy savings by introducing smart lighting management and building control technology, and by converting nearly all stores and logistics centers to LED lighting. Not only that: The forklift truck pool at logistics centers has been modernized, which has significantly reduced the volume of energy used per truck. These measures are already reflected in the energy consumption figures for the 2020/21 base year.

CO2 balance & reduction: it's complicated (in German)
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The packaging route (in German)
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GHG-Report 2021/22
PDF (6.4 MB)

Waste prevention and recycling in our business operations

The HORNBACH Group operates a comprehensive waste management concept. We promote the separation and recycling of valuable materials as secondary raw materials and, at the same time, reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste. The integrated waste management concept is based on the following precepts:
  • For the development of product packaging, particularly for our own brands, HORNBACH is working on optimal solutions, especially with regard to waste prevention
  • Within our business operations, HORNBACH ensures the separation of all generated waste and valuable materials
  • In our HORNBACH stores and logistics centers, balers are used for the high-volume categories of paper and plastic. The collected recyclable materials are picked up and directly transported to recycling centres using the HORNBACH recycling trucks.
  • In all our stores, HORNBACH Baumarkt AG provides recycling stations where consumers can easily return items such as electronic devices, light bulbs, foam cans, or batteries free of charge, even without purchasing new items at the same time
  • HORNBACH provides help and guidance for environmentally-friendly disposal of waste and valuable materials to consumers in our stores and online

 

“Today, environmental commitment is no longer conceivable without recycling, also in view of increasingly scarce resources.”

Expansion of our own recycling collection

In the 2014/2015 fiscal year, we started collecting recyclable materials from our stores with our own HORNBACH recycling trucks. The HORNBACH recycling trucks operate in many parts of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. This allows us to collect large quantities of recyclable materials from our stores and deliver them directly to the desired recycling facilities, such as paper mills. This ensures that further processing can take place directly and efficiently. Another advantage is that these trucks, if they are not carrying recyclable materials, can be integrated into the store supply network. This helps to avoid empty trips, and stores that are already on the disposal route of the truck can be supplied with necessary goods. This concept is constantly evolving.

Further information on recycling at HORNBACH can be found here:

Online recycling portal 2.0 for stores, logistics, and administrative units

Our HORNBACH DIY stores and garden centres generate a variety of waste types. To simplify disposal, we have operated our own internet-based recycling portal since 2015. Initially introduced in the Netherlands, parts of Germany, and Austria, this type of ordering and collection of waste containers is now used by more than 300 collection points in six countries.

Recycling at HORNBACH (in German)
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Valuable to toxic (in German)
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Our logistics: economy meets environmental protection

HORNBACH also contributes to environmental protection through the work of its logistics centres. HORNBACH logistics constantly works on reducing CO2 emissions: by opening new logistics locations and additional delivery centres, software-controlled reduction of transport distances was achieved.

In addition to transport by trucks, alternative transport methods are also used. For example, for the transit of heavy goods such as tiles across the Alps, trains are used. Likewise, the container transport from the import ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg is not handled by trucks, but by inland waterway vessels and trains. Another lever for reducing CO2 emissions is the smart control of goods deliveries to our stores. In cooperation with suppliers, optimal cargo space utilisation and efficient route planning are the focus. Integrated transport planning enables reliable schedules for hauliers and customers in the store. This leads to significantly shorter waiting times and resource-saving use of trucks. Moreover, it results in improved working conditions for drivers and employees. By introducing extensive electronic data exchange between HORNBACH and its suppliers, greater transparency in the supply chain is created.

The simplified data availability eliminates the need for printing many pages of paper. HORNBACH actively promotes solutions for digitisation and standardisation as a member of the logistics working group at the BHB industry association. To save raw materials, the logistics department is particularly concerned with freeing goods from unnecessary packaging. This is largely possible through the use of reusable and durable transport containers. HORNBACH uses these containers in the logistics centre and store cycles.

Further information on resource-saving logistics at HORNBACH can be found here:

Lots to do (in German)
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Lessons from an empty lorry (in German)
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Construction, operation, and maintenance of our properties

Whether HORNBACH is a tenant or owner of a property, how a property is built, operated with resource efficiency, and maintained is important to us.

Therefore, in a first step, HORNBACH Baumarkt AG has joined the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The DGNB and its catalog of measures can provide us with indications of what we should pay attention to in future new builds or how we can evaluate and manage renovation projects.

It is clear that our landlords are increasingly approaching us with requests for building certification. In line with our trustworthy approach to our business partners, we support these requests to the best of our ability. Not least because we also see a benefit for our own future.

Further Information

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guidelines

Find out more about our commitment in the latest issue of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guidelines

Download

The Non-Financial Report

The Non-Financial Report sets out the objectives, strategies, measures, and key figures relating to the main sustainability topics at the HORNBACH Group:

Download

ESG-Statbook

In addition, key sustainability key figures are presented in aggregate form in our ESG Statbook:

Download

Your contact for questions

Anna Krall
Anna Krall
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
+49 (0) 6348-60-4556