• The core business of JD Group is retail. Throughout our multiple store fascias, we aim to provide customers with an enjoyable retail experience. This involves displaying the latest products from the very best brands in an attractive, well-lit environment capable of sustaining a comfortable ambient temperature for customers and colleagues alike. We accept that all our businesses (regardless of territory) must mirror the JD Group commitment towards minimising the impact of climate change, using progressive behaviours and investment to reduce both energy usage, and associated carbon emissions.

    Independent verification of the Group’s continued progress on the management and reduction of our environmental footprint has been provided by our score from the December 2020 Carbon Disclosure Project (‘CDP’) audit. JD Group was awarded a milestone score of ‘A-’ for the Carbon Management category, placing JD Group in the ‘Leadership’ band of respondents, a full three grades higher that the retail average of ‘C’. In addition to the recognition of our progress in managing carbon-related emissions, the fantastic ‘Water Security’ progress made by our Own Brand team has been endorsed by way of a ‘B’ score for this CDP audit, moving JD Group two grades above the retail average score of ‘C’ for this vital bio-diversity-impacting category.

    Carbon Management Programme – 2020/21 Progress Review

    Up to, and including the reporting period for 2020, the Group maintained a Carbon Management Programme (‘CMP’) sponsored by our Chief Financial Officer and reviewed at regular intervals. Following the establishment of the Group’s ESG Committee, the management of carbon, water, waste, and other key environmental measures shall be measured against an updated set of objectives.

    To ensure continuity between the last reporting period and this, we have provided an update on in-year progress in the original format (below). The 2020/21 objectives can be found in our Annual Report.

    ObjectiveAction and Progress
    1.

    Reduce energy usage in non-trading periods

    The Group has invested in Building Management Systems (BMS) in 399 of its highest energy consuming stores, the majority of which are in the UK. These investments cover all fascias and delivered average annual energy savings of 13.1% compared to usage prior to BMS-install (using baseline figures compared across a number of sites). The BMS-related energy saving equals a carbon reduction of 1,657t CO2. During the Period, we trialed additional energy reduction methods within our BMS sites. In Summer 2019 and Winter 2019/20 we reduced our heating and cooling set-points, decreasing our energy usage and related CO2 impact reducing annual electricity consumption by 5%, which equates to 2.3 GWh, or 584 fewer tonnes CO2 of carbon emissions. BMS shall continue to be installed within new JD stores as standard, with further retrofits and other BMS trials scheduled for the Period ahead.

    2.

    Reduce energy usage through investment in lighting technology

    Group investment in LED and energy reduction has continued during the Period. Our standard retail lighting scheme uses LED lamps with motion sensors in both changing room and non-retail areas. Our Head Office site in Bury was fully retro-fitted with LEDs within the Period, delivering a reduction of over 60% in energy usage vs the previous lighting system.

    3.

    Reduce energy usage through colleague awareness and training

    Retail colleagues have a key role to play in the execution of the CMP. All new staff receive online training in energy management as part of our induction programme. We have documented and published (via intranet and employee magazines) case study material on our achievements. This ‘celebration of success’ increases employee awareness the importance of energy reduction.

    4.

    Ensure that the CMP applies to all businesses, in all territories

    For Group acquisition stores, we work closely with local management teams to identify carbon reduction opportunities. Store energy performance reporting has been introduced by Fascia for the UK retail operation and also for JD Gyms. The reporting includes store energy performance league tables (and performance indicators) comparing year on year energy performance. A verified baseline for energy has also been developed to show continual performance improvement. The reporting provided on a quarterly period has allowed the targeting of poor energy performing stores and investigation action to be undertaken.

    5.

    Purchase 'Green' (renewable) energy wherever possible

    100% of the Group’s UK and Irish electricity is ‘Green’ energy from natural, renewable sources. Within the Period, France joined the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany on 100% Green energy. Acquisition businesses are migrated to the Group’s sustainable supply contracts (legacy contractual obligation usage).


    To understand more about what we are doing to reduce energy usage across our business, please look at the case study below:

    Environmental Performance Reporting - Summary

    We continue to build upon the success of the Group’s long-standing energy reduction achievements and management of environmental issues within our core UK operations. Our environmental performance reporting is supported by a team of key colleagues and specialist energy and environment consultants. Our reporting system captures all key energy usage for buildings and business travel, carbon emissions, water use, waste and recycling, in addition to acting as a register for our audit data for all energy related reporting requirements and legislation.

    To January 2020, progress has been made in the following areas:
    • Improved energy efficiency. Reducing our usage via improved management reporting, greater use of benchmarks and investing energy infrastructure (e.g. ‘Smart’ metres)
    • Reducing organisational waste - by using improved site and DC reporting to increase the number of operationally feasible recyclable waste streams within our core operations. The Group achieved ‘Zero waste to landfill’ certification for our largest global operations site (Kingsway DC) in February 2020.
    • Production and distribution of quarterly Environmental Performance Reporting for store energy and water usage
    • The team has successfully completed and delivered on the Group’s data gathering and reporting obligations under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) / Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) ahead of the December 2019 deadline
    • Collation of Scope 3 emissions data from our major third-party logistic providers. This will assist in implementing our Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) submission this year, supporting the provision of enhanced Scope 3 emission reporting

    To understand more about how we are progressing with Science Based Targets, please look at the case study below:

    More information

    If you would like to find out further information on our energy policies including our targets for 2021, please read our Annual Report 2020.