Page 20 Building and operating sustainable shops


Over 20% Construction materials for new builds derived from recycled sources

Sustainable construction programme
Working with one of the UK's leading sustainable development charities, Forum for the Future, we have developed a Sustainable Construction Framework for the retail sector, encouraging other retailers to adopt it as a practical step towards their own aspirations in this area. The framework, launched in February 2007, has helped us to define clear social and environmental objectives for each stage of the construction lifecycle and practical steps to ensure that sustainability principles are adopted within the planning, design, construction and operation stages of every building and refurbishment project.


Each building project now starts with a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) drawn up before the submission of any planning application.
The SAP provides:
>a vision for the building, reflecting our sustainable construction policy
and principles
>a summary of the key sustainability impacts of the proposed building
>a set of actions explaining how the impacts will be addressed
>sustainability performance targets against which the project will be measured.

We recognise that these objectives can't be achieved alone and the framework is therefore dependent on a partnership approach with local authorities, developers, contractors, councils and local residents all buying into the same aims.

"The successful adoption of the Sustainable Construction Framework clearly demonstrates an appetite within the Partnership to deliver more sustainable stores. Building on this framework, we are currently working with designers within both Waitrose and John Lewis to finalise a set of sustainable design principles that everyone can sign up to. These will act as a stimulus for innovation and creative thinking about store interiors, ensuring sustainability is placed at the heart of the Partnership's design and fit-out decisions."
Martin Hunt Head of Built Environment, Forum for the Future


Fitter fixtures
As an extension to the Framework, we are working to identify ways to improve the sustainability impacts of the design and interior fittings for all shops across the Partnership.
In fact, our biggest-ever 'change programme' involves refitting the lighting, cookware and menswear departments in 21 shops in just six months. This project will not only give each department a lighter, more modern feel, but will introduce purpose-built fixtures and fittings and better signage that can be fully dismantled and deconstructed so that the individual materials can be recycled.