The news comes as Wrap reported the Home Improvement Sector Commitment (HISC) ?a voluntary agreement set up by Wrap] has met its original targets of reducing both waste to landfill and packaging in the DIY sector.
Wrap shows that signatories delivered what it describes as an impressive 83% reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill, against a target of 50%.
Furthermore, signatories exceeded the packaging-reduction target of 15%, managing to reduce packaging by an impressive 25% against the same 2007 baseline.
The four-year voluntary agreement set up by Wrap ran from 2009 to 2012.
Wrap chief executive Liz Goodwin said: "The results delivered by the DIY sector are deeply impressive. I congratulate all the signatories on their achievements in what has been a testing time for the sector.
"Overall, the activities of all signatories have improved product and packaging design that make recycling easier. There is now clearer recycling guidance for suppliers and consumers, particularly with the greater use of the On-Pack Recycling Label in store."
The Home Improvement Sector Commitment brought together key sector retailers, brands and manufacturers. Its members represent almost half of the UK's home improvement retail sales with signatories including AkzoNobel UK Decorative Paints, Argos, B&Q, Crown Paints, Henkel, Homebase, and Wickes.
Defra environment minister David Heath said: "Cutting waste is not only good for the environment but can help businesses save money and boost economic growth. It's fantastic to see DIY businesses working together to cut waste and unnecessary packaging and exceeding the challenging targets set in this agreement."
Examples of some of the successful initiatives introduced by signatories over the lifetime of HISC:
B&Q introduced its award-winning re-usable packaging system for home delivery of kitchen worktops and components. This cut packaging and reduced the risk of damage to products in transit, delivering 1 million plus costs savings per annum. Henkel manufacturers of Loctite, Sellotape, Solvite, Nitromors, UniBond, No More Nails and Pritt, have engineered both primary and secondary packaging to minimize the use of packaging materials and to reduce waste to landfill. Packaging specifications in their PVA and Adhesives product lines have been optimized, reducing their packaging variants from eight to three. Cartons have been replaced by simple board and shrink wrap.
