Question Response 1 Where can I find details about your overall cr strategy? Find out more in Our Strategy section. 2 Do you have an environment policy? Yes we do. Find out more in our Media centre or our Policies sections. 3 What are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions? The Group's carbon footprint has decreased by 9%. Find out more in our Performance against targets or our Keeping clean and green sections. 4 How much renewable energy do you use? This year 3% of the electricity we used came from renewable sources, 93% from good quality combined heat and power (GQCHP). 5 How much of your waste is recycled? 91%. Find out more in our Performance against targets or our Keeping clean and green sections. 6 What steps are you taking to reduce paper use? Through better forecasting and minimising waste, the total amount of paper used in our catalogues and all our publications has fallen by 8,000 tonnes. (7%) 7 Are you reducing the number of plastic carrier bags you offer to customers Our customers have helped Home Retail Group cut carrier bag use in the UK by 47% since 2005 (on a like for like basis). Find out more in our Keeping clean and green section. 8 Can the Argos catalogue be recycled? Yes, it is 100% recyclable and can be recycled locally or handed in at your local store. 9 Will you take away my old washing machine when my new one is delivered? Can I give you the packaging to take away too? When you order a new one from us, choose the collection service and we’ll take your old appliance away and dispose of it responsibly. We’ll also take away the packaging from the new item free of charge. 10 Where can i dispose of my old hairdryer? We’ve contributed funds to help local authorities provide local recycling facilities for you. Take it to your local recycling centre. Visit www.recyclenow.com to find the nearest one to you.
Question Response 1 Do you sell energy efficient appliances? Yes we do – look out for the ‘Energy Saving Trust Recommended’ logos on TVs or the energy efficiency ‘A-G’ ratings on large domestic appliances. 2 Where can I get advice on insulating my home? You can find out more by visiting the Homebase online energy shop.
Question Response 1 How can I be sure that the jewellery you sell comes from ethical sources? Our diamonds are certified through the Kimberly Process scheme to provide assurance that they’re not sourced from conflict zones. Argos is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and is working with its jewellery suppliers to demonstrate supply chain scrutiny. We’re encouraging our suppliers to join the RJC, influencing practices further up the supply chain. 2 Are any of your products tested on animals? The Argos own-brand cosmetic range meets the Humane Cosmetic Standard of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). For the very small range of products that we sell that could be tested on animals, (mainly fragrances and cosmetics), we ask our suppliers to confirm that our products have not been animal-tested. Some of the chemicals we sell in Homebase have to be tested on animals by law (things such as pesticides), and where this is the case, we permit it. 3 What proportion of your timber comes from sustainable sources? 92% of our timber based products tracked via our Timber Tracker, are either Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or from other known and legal sources. All our Homebase garden furniture is FSC certified.
The Argos own-brand cosmetic range meets the Humane Cosmetic Standard of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). For the very small range of products that we sell that could be tested on animals, (mainly fragrances and cosmetics), we ask our suppliers to confirm that our products have not been animal-tested.
Question Response 1 Where can I get more information about a career in Argos or Homebase? Visit the careers section of our website 2 Are discounts offered to employees? Yes – we offer colleagues 10% discount at Argos and 20% discount at Homebase. 3 What proportion of your senior management positions are held by women? Women comprise 23% of our senior executive positions. 4 What proportion of your employees come from ethnic backgrounds? What proportion of your workforce consider themselves disabled? We don’t explicitly measure the proportion of our staff coming from different ethnic backgrounds or with disabilities. What we are concerned about is to make sure that we recruit, reward and promote staff solely on their ability to do the job and not for any other reason. We have strong equal opportunities policies and our workforce broadly reflects the local communities that they serve.
Question Response 1 How do I apply for a donation to my local charity? Find out more with our Charitable donations request form. 2 How do you make shopping easier for customers with disabilities? Almost all of our stores are accessible to disabled customers and we’re working all the time to improve access – widening doors and aisles, installing ramps and low level browser units. Magnifiers are also available in all Argos stores. We produce an audio CD of the Argos catalogue so visually impaired customers can shop with us more easily. We’ve also contributed to a national website that allows disabled people to look up facilities (including Argos and Homebase stores) in their area, and to check in advance whether they are accessible. 3 Do you have a ‘charity of the year’? Yes we do. The charity is chosen by a Group-wide colleague vote. Until February 2013 our chosen charity partner is the Teenage Cancer Trust. 4 How do I contact your Customer Services Department? You can telephone 0845 640 3030 or email customer.enquiries@argos.co.uk or customer.enquiries@homebase.co.uk