In the first full year Net Positive report, Kingfisher boss Sir Ian Cheshire says that steady progress has been made in reaching 2020 targets.
Net Positive is Kingfisher's way of making a positive contribution to people and the environment, while growing a stronger, more profitable business.

Europe's largest home improvement retailer, which has 1,130 stores in nine countries, has made steady progress in its attempt to hit the 50 targets it set out to achieve by 2020 in October 2012.

Highlights for the year February 2013 to January 2014 include reducing carbon emissions by 5% and ensuring 69% of waste is recycled.

The Net Positive report also details how 87% of the timber used in products sold by Kingfisher is responsibly sourced and for B&Q, which is owned by Kingfisher, this figure has reached 100%.

In another environmentally-friendly aspect, B&Q has joined forces with Friends of the Earth to address the problem of the declining bee population in the UK.

During the last financial year Kingfisher generated 21% of its sales revenue from sales of eco-friendly products and products with a lower environmental impact.

And in another step to increase its global environmental impact, Kingfisher has become the first major company in the UK general retail sector to join the UN Global Compact, which covers human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Group chief executive, Sir Ian Cheshire, said: "Becoming restorative requires transformative change management within our business and winning the hearts and minds of our colleagues, our suppliers and our customers.

"We've made steady progress in the first year in linking Net Positive to our core business strategy and creating tangible success stories. There is much more to do but I'm pleased to share our progress so far."

Group sustainability director, Richard Gillies, added: "In the year ahead we will be focused on further embedding Net Positive into our operating companies, strengthening our systems and governance structures and accelerating progress by making sure that what we do is truly relevant to our customers and employees at the local level.

"We will take what we've learnt from our early successes and start working with our partners to apply these lessons at scale across our business and stimulate further innovation.

"We have much to do to reach our 2020 targets but I believe we are in good shape to make the changes we need to get us there."