Plastic Wrap Reduction

PlaceMakers is dedicated to advancing sustainability through continuous evaluation and improvement of our practices. One significant area identified for enhancement was our use of plastic wrap for delivering building products, which often ended up in landfill after a single use. Customer feedback played a pivotal role in shaping our approach. While some customers valued the weather protection provided by plastic wrap, many expressed that it was unnecessary for their needs while also adding to the waste they needed to deal with on site.

In response, we implemented a proactive change which has since rolled out nationwide. Products, which would once have been wrapped, are now delivered without plastic wrapping as the default practice. The only exception to this is in cases of anticipated inclement weather or specific customer requests. To encourage sustainable choices, customers opting for plastic wrap incur a nominal $5 fee, donated entirely to Forest and Bird, New Zealand’s leading independent conservation organisation.

This initiative has already made a significant impact, reducing plastic use by 60% in Auckland stores. We are committed to expanding this practice across all branches, ensuring ongoing progress towards our goal to achieve 70% landfill avoidance by 2026.

In-Branch Sorting Stations

In some branches, we are trialling sorting stations as part of our commitment to creating a circular waste journey and reducing landfill waste by 70%. These stations feature bins for various types of waste, including plasterboard and polystyrene, which are sent back to manufacturers for reuse in new products, and cardboard, which is recycled into new materials. Our sorting stations, accessible to both staff and customers, play a crucial role in our mission to minimise environmental impact and both staff and customers are encouraged to make use of them.

Education

We know that education is a powerful catalyst for change with regards to sustainability. We are dedicated to educating our staff on sustainable practices and equipping our customers with fresh ideas and insights on our initiatives. Through our bi-monthly Under Construction magazine, we regularly share articles about sustainability efforts within PlaceMakers and the wider industry. This resource provides valuable information for a new generation of tradespeople eager to engage with sustainable practices. You can explore these articles here.

Additionally, our commitment to transparency is reflected in our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) world reporting. These reports offer detailed updates on our sustainability progress within PlaceMakers and the broader Fletchers family, allowing stakeholders to track our performance and understand the metrics, processes, and certifications that support our initiatives. By keeping education at the forefront, we empower our community to contribute to a sustainable future.