Carbon Score, Home Index, J’agis, Bon+Bon: logos are multiplying in large DIY stores to point out more sustainable products or measure their impact on the environment, at the risk of creating a cacophony of evaluations due to the lack of regulation.
At the end of March, Leroy Merlin launched a Home Index on 35,000 own-brand products. With a rating from A (green) to E (red), this indicator evaluates the conditions of production, packaging, water or energy consumption, but also the useful life and repairability of the products.
On the ManoMano online sales site we will be able to see from April 26 how many kilos of CO2 will have been emitted in the useful life of 400,000 products, a Carbon Score that should extend to 70% of the catalog in 2024. with a future open methodology to the rest of the industry.
Bricorama, for its part, will launch a green logo, “J’agis”, at the beginning of May, on 300 products “among the strongest in terms of responsible consumption”, according to their origin, their production conditions or their robustness, with the goal of reaching 1,000 products by the end of 2023.
Everyone understood that “the implementation of an ecological strategy with vision”, as well as the appetite of young people for DIY (do it yourself, editor’s note), are “growth engines” for the sector, according to a study by the Sign Asteres.
The increase in sales of specific products aimed at better insulating homes, one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, or saving water and energy, also demonstrates a growing call for respect for the environment.
Most brands have also created refurbished or second-hand devices and have developed consulting and training services for individuals.
each one on his side
But, in terms of environmental visualization, the Asterès firm recommends a “single label and measurement tools”.
The criteria used by the different brands follow the recommendations of Ademe. However, despite discussions within the Federation of DIY Stores (FMB) with the ecological transition agency, the methodologies are as numerous as the brands, without harmonization while the products are often similar.
Without being affected by the different environmental labeling laws, stores have worked in their area to improve the eco-design of products and reduce their global footprint.
The law does not oblige them to communicate the results to consumers, but the sector has been overwhelmed by the generalization of environmental labeling on other products.
“The consumer is the same. If we take care of what is on our plates, we take care of our home. Customers are not going to wait for a law to ask for transparency,” explains Cécile Hebert, CSR manager at ITM Home Equipment (Bricorama, Bricomarché, Brico Cash).
Desire to consume responsibly
After the lockdowns that boosted sales, DIY is now facing, like food, a drop in customer purchasing power.
“Despite this inflationary context, there is a basic tendency towards the desire to consume responsibly”, Cécile Hebert specifies however, adding that the group is open to discussions with Leroy Merlin on the Home Index. “It is in the interest of consumers, since we sell almost the same products.”
Others prefer to wait for harmonization: Castorama already classifies its products according to 250 sustainability criteria, but only advertises a small “sustainable” selection in stores under the Bon+Bon logo. The sign also shows the origin of the wood used in their items.
“We are starting to carry out product life cycle assessments, this will allow us to comply with the regulations once they are in place,” says Anne-Virginie Dissard, CSR director at Kingfisher (Castorama, Brico Dépôt).
“For the consumer to come back, it is essential to have a unique system”, confirms Jean-Luc Guéry, president of the Association professionnelle des industriels du nouvel habitat, soulful that the multiplication of indicators “risk of perdre” customers.
According to him, the regulations on environmental labeling will eventually be applied and “we must, in the sector, prepare for it”.
Source: BFM TV
