Objectives

--Reduce the volume of waste that we produce

--Seek opportunities to reuse waste materials

--Maximise recycling of the waste we generate

--Minimise the amount of waste disposed to landfill.

Key waste streams

--Product waste

--Packaging associated with the products we sell

--Cardboard and plastic generated through the handling of products in our warehouses

--Cardboard and plastic generated through the handling of products in our warehouses

--General waste generated in our offices and stores, including from refurbishment

--Waste generated through the disposal of catalogues by the Group and its customers.

Key Targets:

--We will minimise waste in our own operations and put the waste we do produce to positive use wherever possible.

●CHEMICALS POLICY

  We aim to reduce chemicals present in our products that may pose environmental or other risks following their release into the wider environment. The Group will focus attention on

own brand and direct source products where we have the largest influence on suppliers.

  Our approach to chemicals primarily reflects the requirements of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals) Regulations, particularly with reference to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) and chemicals that may be regulated in the future. We also acknowledge that other chemicals outside the scope of the REACH Regulations give cause for concern, principally the SIN (Substitute It Now) list of chemicals identified by the International Chemical Secretariat, a not-for-profit monitoring organisation (www.chemsec.org).We have grouped chemicals into three categories with required actions corresponding to the level of concern, as detailed below.

Category 1 – Prohibit

  We will not accept banned chemicals in any products, by which we mean chemicals prohibited for use by legislation in the market where the product is sold or manufactured.

  Suppliers have a responsibility to understand and comply with all relevant legislation and are responsible for checking legislation relating to their own operations and markets.

Category 2 – Substitute

  We aim to remove all SVHCs from our products when present in levels above the thresholds specified by the REACH Regulations. Our suppliers are required to monitor chemicals designated as SVHCs, notify us of their presence in our products and endeavour to remove them as soon as practical. Suppliers should also be aware of chemicals detailed on the Registry of Intentions List and aim to substitute these.

Category 3 – Monitor

  We require our suppliers to monitor the use of a wider group of chemicals that may require action in the future, specifically those substances detailed in the SIN (Substitute It Now) List that are related to consumer products.

  We expect the co-operation of our suppliers to help us implement this policy. We encourage suppliers to be open in their reporting to us, and we aim to allow reasonabl periods for the removal and substitution of chemicals when required.

  The Group will keep other stakeholders updated on progress and maintain a close watch on new information relating to the likely presence of chemicals of concern in its products.