QVC: an increasingly sustainability-conscious community

"The action of QVC is based on the global corporate social responsibility strategy of Qurate Retail Group to which QVC belongs, which aims to inspire a more sustainable way of retailing with a CSR strategy based on three pillars. - says Barbara Azzena, Logistics Manager, ESBRG Group Head - Planet, aiming to protect the environment through sustainable packaging, energy efficiency and optimised waste management, logistics and shipping; Product, through responsible product selection by making ethical choices on resources and suppliers, increasing sustainable raw materials; People, fostering empowerment and a sense of belonging, promoting the values of diversity, equity and inclusion, through fundraising and charitable activities."

"Recently, QVC has been working towards the creation of an Italian logistics hub with a significant reduction of CO2 emissions, installation of high-efficiency cogeneration plants for the production of electricity, the installation of photovoltaic panels covering the entire roof of the Italian headquarters producing electricity to light the entire premises. In addition, QVC has worked towards the implementation of shipping and logistics operations: from the return and shipping documents on recycled paper to the introduction of documents in digital form to the use of recycled materials in outgoing packaging, as well as the inclusion of the refurbished products category on the web and Second Life as a sustainable choice. Finally, QVC focused more on DE&I to promote inclusion in all its forms and to value diversity

QVC has been committed to the development of sustainable projects in recent years. First and foremost, the move of the logistics centre from Germany, which led to a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions in the air, amounting to about 1 million kg every year, thanks to the fewer kilometres travelled by couriers delivering products to customers in Italy. QVC is also committed to the web launch of the refurbished and Second Life category, which allows the life cycle of an item to be extended; this avoids the product becoming electronic waste and the complex management of the disposal of such waste, and offers a second life to clothing and accessories. It is also a sustainable choice in terms of saving CO² emissions and the energy needed to produce the same article from scratch. The project to protect biodiversity with 3Bee is a further piece that consolidates our goal of environmental sustainability".

QVC has teamed up with science partner 3Bee to create its own Oasis of Biodiversity, consisting of 100 nectariferous trees, a biomonitoring hive and pollinator shelters. A measurable project that will contribute to the largest study project on pollinating insects and biodiversity. "The nectariferous forest of our Oasis will welcome and nourish about 150,000 pollinators every year, as well as absorb about 3 tonnes of CO2. Moreover, thanks to the biomonitoring hive equipped with 3Bee Hive-Tech technology, we will monitor environmental parameters useful to analyse the biodiversity surrounding and the health of the pollinators, as well as observe the health status in a statistical way of over 300,000 bees," says Barbara Azzena, Logistics Manager, ESBRG group leader. A Polly House, a butterfly house and a ladybird house complete the project.

biodiversity is the sum of all life forms on our planet and plays an indispensable role in maintaining fundamental ecological functions. However, in recent years, biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate due to certain human activities, pollution and the consequences of climate change. According to the ISPRA, 9 per cent of bees and pollinating insects are at risk of extinction, a situation exacerbated by global warming. This is why it is important to take concrete action to safeguard, regenerate and monitor the state of biodiversity. "The project with 3Bee represents a further step in QVC's sustainability journey: the loss of biodiversity is one of the most urgent emergencies and with this project we want to contribute not only to its protection, but also to raising awareness among our community on this important issue," says Barbara Azzena, Logistics Manager, ESBRG Group Head.