Kingfisher to stop selling products containing metaldehyde
B&Q owner Kingfisher is to stop selling products containing metaldehyde and will replace them with environmentally-friendly alternatives.
The move is part of the company’s Sustainable Growth Plan which includes the aim of phasing out harmful chemicals. Metaldehyde is used in gardening products to protect plants from slugs and snails but experts have warned that it can be harmful to wildlife and pollute rivers.
Kingfisher has also announced the addition of several chemical-free alternatives to its gardening range this month following three years’ product development work with its suppliers and partners.
Tim Clapp, head of horticulture at Kingfisher, said: “We know customers care a great deal about their gardens. They want to do more to encourage nature and cultivate their green spaces in a way that is good for them and the environment. But that is not always easy to do.
“That is why we have worked for several years to remove metaldehyde from our supply chain, making it simpler for customers to make sustainable choices and providing real alternatives. We welcome the recent government decision to introduce regulation so others will follow in removing it from shelves.”
