Sustainable sourcing
Sustainable sourcing
Our approach
We’re determined to buy the products we need – to sell to customers and for our own use – in a responsible way. Consequently, we review our product sourcing policies and ensure that our suppliers understand them and comply with them. Find out more in our Policies section.
Our product sustainability policies cover:
Timber
We stock timber and wood-based products sourced from certified or known and legal sources, or made from recycled material. We work with suppliers of products that meet our minimum standards to help them move towards certified sourcing. Read our policy.
Use of natural resources
We recognise that the uncontrolled sourcing of animal products, plant species, minerals and growing media (earths and composts) can have serious effects on local eco-systems. When possible we source from cultivated or farmed rather than wild stocks. Read our policy.
What we’ve done
Paper and Timber sourcing
For the last two years, we’ve printed all our publications, including the Argos catalogue, on recycled paper or paper from forests certified as well-managed by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). All our publications can be recycled after use. The Argos catalogue is PEFC certified, giving us full chain of custody throughout our supply chain.
Both Argos and Homebase are members of the WWF-GFTN (World Wildlife Fund –Global Forest Trade Network).
This year, 91% of our timber based products were FSC certified or from other certified or known and legal sources. All the new range of garden furniture sold by Argos and Homebase is FSC certified or sourced from suppliers who are members of WWF-GFTN and working towards FSC certification.
More detailed information regarding the forest product data for Argos and Homebase is now available.
Find out more about our work with WWF to improve performance in our timber supply chain.
Use of natural resources
This year the average peat free content of our growing media increased to 58.8%, although customers still prefer cheaper multi purpose compost. We aim to achieve 60% next year. We’ve supported and funded the UK Industries Growing Media Initiative (GMI) and are actively involved in the peat debate through our membership of this organisation.
We also support the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) call for the government to introduce statutory targets to end peat use in both retail and professional horticulture.
Cosmetics
All Argos own-brand cosmetics meet the Humane Cosmetics Standard, an internationally recognised scheme run by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.
Chemicals
Our priority is to reduce the use of chemicals in our own brand products that may present environmental or other risks if released into the environment. We focus primarily on chemicals that may be present in the final product (rather than intermediates used in manufacture) because these can be more directly tested and controlled. We’ve canvassed support from our suppliers in removing any chemicals in the Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) list.
Read our policy.
Ethical sourcing
Ethical sourcing
Our approach
A responsible business cannot work in isolation from the communities in which it sources or manufactures products. We have an obligation to attain high ethical standards and build successful partnerships with our suppliers to drive improvements in productivity and benefit people working in our supply chains. Consequently, we regularly audit factories that manufacture our directly sourced or imported products and work with them to improve ethical standards. We also aspire to only sell products that are generally considered to be socially acceptable.
What we’ve done
Factory audits
All our direct source and direct import factories have now completed ethical audits against our own standard or other accredited ones (including ICTI, WRAP, BSCi, SMETA or SA8000), with 886 audits completed this year. All our factories revalidate their audits within agreed timescales.
If a factory fails an audit, we usually work with the supplier to resolve issues and improve conditions. We agree corrective actions and deadlines with them and monitor their progress on an ongoing basis.
In addition to formal audits, our buyers and other colleauges visit manufacturing sites regularly. We’ve produced a checklist for buyers, summarising key elements of our ethical policy, to help them check compliance and if necessary raise concerns. We intend to report on the extent and causes of all audit compliance failures next year. Read our policy.
Animal welfare
We’ve amended our policy this year to prohibit the collection of feather and down from live birds. Read our policy.
The policy covers wider animal welfare issues, including animal cruelty during production, compliance with animal welfare standards and the level of pain or distress caused by products used to control pest infestations. We’ve also agreed to work with suppliers of products containing leather to raise awareness of the issues raised by sourcing leather from cattle.
All Argos own brand cosmetics comply with the Humane Cosmetics Standard as managed by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV).
Jewellery
Argos is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The Council works with the jewellery industry to promote the ethical sourcing of gold and diamonds and we encourage our jewelley suppliers to join. Argos is working towards certification to the RJC accreditation scheme by the end of 2011/12. Read our policy.
Socially acceptable products
We’ve developed guidelines that help us identify, understand and respond to sensitivities related to the sale of socially unacceptable products. Public opinion about what is or isn’t acceptable can change rapidly so we review these guidelines regularly. Read our policy.