B&Q owner Kingfisher has cut down on how much energy it uses after taking the plunge on a commitment to put more back into the environment that it takes out by 2050.

The home improvement retailer made the “beyond zero” pledge for four areas – timber, energy, innovation and communities – last year and published its progress its “Net Positive” report last week.

The retailer touted the reduction of its own energy intensity by 10% – basically a measure of how much energy is needed for a certain amount of activity- and a cut in CO2 emissions of 3% since 2010/11 during a period of “business growth”.

Kingfisher’s report also showed its customers should have saved 5 TerraWatt hours of energy over two years by buying energy-saving products.

Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive (pictured) said: “It is early days for Net Positive, but exciting progress is already happening.”

The report revealed 89% of the DIY retailer’s timber products are “responsibly sourced” from proven well-managed or recycled sources, It has launched forest projects in Spain and the UK that will “restore under-managed forests” and woodlands, “boost biodiversity and open up new sustainable sources of timber”.

Customers are buying into energy saving suggest the figures as a fifth of Kingfisher’s sales in store have come from products with eco-credentials.