Lands’ End aims for excellent rating on new build

Apparel cataloguer Lands’ End was already committed to being environmentally friendly; it was the first catalogue retailer to be certified under the Royal Mail’s Sustainable Mail scheme, and as such, has been mailing catalogues printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests and free of polywrap since 2009.

Further adding to its green credentials is the company’s new distribution centre extension, opened in August 2010.
The new 61,000 sq ft building at the brand’s headquarters in Oakham, Rutland, will increase storage capacity by 200 percent and support further expansion in the UK and the rest of Europe, with more than three million parcels forecast to be despatched in 2011. It is anticipated that the new building will receive a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of “excellent” by the end of September 2010.

Among the building’s green technologies and features are:
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Solar energy to heat the washrooms and the water used within them
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Air source heat pumps to heat the warehouse space
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Grey-water capture from the roof to flush toilets
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High energy-efficiency lighting throughout with microwave sensors
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Washrooms fitted with infrared taps to minimise water usage, plus a central shut-off system for when the building is unoccupied
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Wildlife-friendly planting, including wildflowers, introduced around the site.