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Growing Responsibly

We’re proud of the role our team members play in their local communities and are committed to reducing our environmental impact.

.homebase giving back to community

Communi-trees

This year we’re bringing some much-needed joy to the festive period by donating 1,000 real Christmas trees to the unsung heroes supporting people living with cancer, in aid of our charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

Our nomination form is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations – successful nominees will be contacted by 24th November with further details.

Charity partners

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support

At Homebase, we know how good it feels to be home. And that’s why we’re proud to partner with Macmillan Cancer Support to help provide home comforts for those living with cancer.

All the money our teams and customers raise goes towards Macmillan’s home-related grants, a one-off payment of £350, to help keep those most in need safe and comfortable in their homes. The grant can be used towards everything from essential home upgrades and energy bills to items that can improve day to day living, such as duvets, microwaves, clothing and washing machines – or even a much-needed break from cancer treatments.

Since the start of our partnership in 2019 we’ve already raised £250,000 for Macmillan. Keep an eye out for fundraising events and activities in our stores and help us support people living with cancer.

For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk.

Irish Cancer Society

Our Republic of Ireland stores are proud to support the Irish Cancer Society, who as a community of patients, survivors, volunteers and health & social care professionals, are supporting people in Ireland affected by cancer.

Greenfingers

The money we raise from the sale of single use carrier bags is donated to Greenfingers, a charity supporting children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens for them to relax in and benefit from.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications, said: “The support you have shown Greenfingers over recent years has made an extraordinary difference to the charity and has helped us bring forward plans for more magical gardens for life-limited children.”

Commitment to our communities

It’s important for us to give back to the communities in which we live and work. From outdoor pots and plants to tins of paint and the tools to help get the job done, we’re passionate about playing our part in local communities nationwide.

We’re always up for a challenge so whether it’s product donations or a helping hand, we’re proud to support communities to help everyone feel comfortable and safe in their homes, workplaces and other places they spend time in.

Please contact your closest store for local charity and community engagement opportunities or email media.relations@homebase.co.uk.

Carr Lane Club

When a local social club allotment was burgled, our Bradford store stepped in to help out by donating some gardening products.

More fantastic projects we’ve supported

We’re very proud of how our stores help local schools, health care and community groups. Just a few recent examples:

Our Milton Keynes store supported a local cheerleading club, MK Elite, by donating and delivering raffle prizes to help them raise funds for their club.

Oxford store donated decorating materials to Dance 10 Theatre Arts School so they could spruce up their new premises which needed a make over before their students could begin lessons.

Abingdon store were happy to help out the 1st Benson Scout Group by donating and delivering a BBQ so that the children could continue cooking activities after their equipment had been stolen during a burglary.

Halfway Home Dog Rescue Centre received support from our Newark store who donated a BBQ for a raffle prize to help raise much-needed funds to help them take care of the dogs awaiting their forever homes.

Commitment to the environment

Biodiversity in the community

Biodiversity is a growing passion and concern for our customers. Nearly half of UK species are now declining and one in 10 is threatened with extinction. As the garden experts, we’re using our knowledge and resources to encourage greater biodiversity across the UK and Ireland.

So, what exactly is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is essentially bringing together lots of different plants, trees and animals in one space – because the more diverse our outside spaces are, the better it is for the environment.

With the UK’s back gardens alone covering a landmass bigger than the Lake District, we have an amazing opportunity to use our position as the garden experts to help everyone play their part in boosting biodiversity.

We’re helping people in communities across the UK and Ireland by making it really easy for them to make ‘greener’ choices and increase the variety of flora and fauna in their own outside spaces.

In 2020 we launched the ‘Great British Green Up’ to help customers make small changes that will encourage biodiversity – from learning how to compost, to understanding the best flowers for attracting bees and creating homes for animals.

Products

We’re continually looking for more ways to help provide even more green alternatives when you’re shopping with us.

Homebase Paint

We’ve invested in more sustainable solutions across our own brand paint range. The sustainable packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic materials and the paint liquid has a minimal volatile organic compound (VOC) count, reducing its impact on atmospheric pollution. Homebase Paint is also shipped to our stores alongside the Crown paint ranges, reducing carbon footprint and maximising stock delivery efficiency.

Garden

Our pack bedding plants are grown in trays made from recycled plastic bottles rather than polystyrene or black plastic and are fully recyclable. Our black carry trays used to transport potted plants are also made from recycled plastic and our returned to our Distribution Centres where they are recycled.

Our range of green alternatives in our garden care offering is bigger than ever before, with market-leading brands such as Ecofective, Solabiol and Resolve Zero.

We sell a wide range of pollinator friendly plants throughout the year. Look out for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo on our care cards to help improve biodiversity in your own garden.

How you can help

Here are some ways in which you can make a difference to your environmental impact by disposing of household goods safely.

Electrical waste

Check your electrical goods for the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol to see if your item can be disposed of within household waste. All electrical goods with the symbol from the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive can be disposed of at a WEEE collection point for recycling.

Batteries

Waste batteries can be returned free of charge using the battery waste bin found in our stores. Batteries should never be put in the general household waste or recycling bins as part of the Waste Batteries & Accumulators Regulations.

Paint

Excess paint should be disposed of carefully. Do not empty waste paint into drains, watercourses or access routes to septic tanks and always remove as much product as possible from the brushes, roller or paint pads before washing.

Empty metal and plastic paint tins can be taken to local household recycling centres.

Energy saving light bulbs

All energy saving light bulbs should be treated as a hazardous waste and should not be disposed of in household waste but recycled at your local recycling centre.

If you accidentally damage an energy saving light bulb, advice is to leave the room for 15 minutes. Use rubber gloves and sticky tape to pick up the broken glass and wipe the area where the bulb smashed with a damp cloth. You should place the broken glass and used cloth into a sealed bag and take it to the nearest recycling centre for disposal.

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