- Leroy Merlin and Helexia mark five years of partnership with sustainability case study;
- 9 stores have already produced around 10 GWh of clean energy, which corresponds to savings of around €350,000 on the energy bill;
- Installed capacity: 2.77 MWp, which currently covers the energy needs of 42% of the 9 stores;
- Implementation of energy efficiency measures that led to savings of around 36% in the lighting component;
- Enhancement of properties with 9 BREEAM certifications in progress;
- Electric mobility solutions available in 7 stores;
- More than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gases were avoided;
- Investment fully assumed by Helexia: €3M.
On World Environment Day, Leroy Merlin and Helexia are celebrating five years of relationship for sustainability by presenting a Case Study that proves this joint success story. This work shares data on the objectives achieved, which have had a positive impact on both the environment and the economy.
Throughout this half-decade of collaboration, a decarbonization roadmap has been drawn up, based on four main axes: Clean Energy Self-Consumption, Energy Efficiency, Electric Mobility and BREEAM Certification. This strategy has helped to establish Leroy Merlin as an organization committed to sustainability in Portugal.
With solar self-consumption, Leroy Merlin stores now produce a large part of their electricity from solar, reducing their dependence on the public grid and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To complement this path, various energy efficiency actions have been introduced, optimizing consumption and avoiding energy waste. To this end, Leroy Merlin has already implemented: Relighting in three stores, Energy Audits, Store Clustering, and the development and implementation of a Good Practices Manual.
As electric mobility is very important to customers, visitors and partners, LEROY MERLIN currently has seven normal (double) chargers and another seven fast chargers, distributed throughout the stores in Setúbal, Aveiro, Leiria, Matosinhos, Sintra, Albufeira and Funchal. This effort towards electric mobility allows 21 electric cars to be charged simultaneously.
BREEAM is an internationally recognized environmental assessment and certification framework for buildings. This distinction is important for assessing the environmental performance of buildings in various categories, including the use of energy, water, materials, waste and pollution, among other aspects. The ongoing certification is important to prove the sustainability of the properties and LEROY MERLIN's commitment to the environment.
Helexia and Leroy Merlin: A story of decarbonization
It was the summer of 2018 when the sun's rays hit the first photovoltaic plant installed at Leroy Merlin's Loulé store. A month later, the same happened in Portimão. Since the first joint project, the relationship has been marked by the companies' commitment and dedication to working towards a common goal: sustainability and decarbonization.
Five years have passed and this partnership has already installed more than 1,040 solar panels in 9 Leroy Merlin stores in Portugal, which corresponds to 2.77 MW of installed energy, a production of 10 GWh and avoided the emission of 5,000 tons of CO2. Later this year, two more stores will start producing their own energy, increasing the installed capacity to 3.52 MWp. This synergy allows for stable energy prices over time, with more competitive values. The maintenance and monitoring of the photovoltaic plants ensures that production ratios are met.
For João Lavos, Positive Impact Leader at Leroy Merlin Portugal, "This relationship, which is now explained in this Case Study, is part of Leroy Merlin's strategic objective to lead the energy transition of buildings in Portugal. In this way, we have built partnerships over time with other companies that are experts in their sector and help us along this path.
In this sense, Helexia has been and will be our partner in the energy transition of our buildings, because for us it makes sense to start with our own home. The work we have been doing is a true partnership, based on a very close knowledge of the mutual needs and capabilities of both companies, knowledge that has been gained over the course of the relationship.
The results of the partnership are very relevant and encourage us to go further, together we want to continue improving the energy efficiency of our buildings and that's why we will continue to implement the actions that we have defined together and that have allowed us to achieve the goal of reducing energy consumption by 5% every year."
To date, Helexia has invested around €3 million in these 4 decarbonization axes, allowing Leroy Merlin to channel its capital into strategic investments to expand its business.
In the decarbonization roadmap, the energy transition makes it possible to produce and optimize energy consumption, reduce the impact on the environment and contribute to market competitiveness. Leroy Merlin is a clear example of this paradigm shift and this partnership with Helexia allows us to create a positive balance between economy and ecology.
For Luis Pinho, Country Director of Helexia Portugal, "This Case Study aims to highlight the relationship of trust, and the fair and transparent partnership with which both parties commit themselves to the execution of common objectives.
In the specific case of our collaboration with Leroy Merlin, we are committed to promoting decarbonization in a holistic way, without compromising the essential resources of its core business. We firmly believe that trust is the foundation of this relationship, allowing us to take responsibility for project development, implementation and investment.
This Case Study serves as an inspiring appeal to leaders in other sectors, urging them to follow this path and invest in decarbonization. Together, we can lead the way towards a future where competitiveness and sustainability will be fundamental pillars driving sustainable progress," Luis Pinho said.
The importance of decarbonizing retail
The retail sector is an important driver of the economy and therefore an important axis for decarbonization. The Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) is actively involved in promoting decarbonization in this sector. One of APED's main areas of activity is energy efficiency.
The association has been encouraging distribution companies to adopt more sustainable practices and technologies when it comes to energy consumption. This includes the implementation of LED lighting systems, the use of more efficient equipment, the optimization of logistics networks and the adoption of renewable energies.
In addition to this, APED has also been raising awareness among its member companies, encouraging the implementation of other measures including waste management, promoting recycling and reducing food waste.
APED has also collaborated with government entities in the development of policies and regulations related to the decarbonization of this sector, through participation in discussions and debate forums, contributing its experience to the definition of targets and strategies at national level.
Sustainability is therefore a concern and a commitment in the retail and distribution sector in Portugal, the results of this work are already visible and Leroy Merlin is a good example of this.