The Home Depot is aiming for 85% of outdoor power equipment sales to be generated by items that run on rechargeable battery technology instead of gas by the end of 2028. The project is specifically focused on push lawn mowers and handheld outdoor equipment like leaf blowers and trimmers, and the transition is expected to reduce more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually from exhaust pipes of residential lawn equipment.
The retailer will work to offer cordless outdoor power tools from brands such as Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt in order to reach this goal. Home Depot noted that these brands are committed to building rechargeable tools that match the power of gas-powered equipment with adequate run times while requiring less maintenance and producing less noise.
Industry data shows that using a gas-powered lawn mower for an hour creates as much air pollution as driving 300 miles in an average car, while running a gas-powered leaf blower for an hour creates the same number of emissions as a 1,100-mile drive — the distance from Los Angeles to Denver. Home Depot noted that its greatest environmental impact comes from these products, making the switch to battery-powered tools its biggest opportunity to help the company and its customers reduce their carbon impact.
“By innovating residential lawn equipment away from gas-powered combustible engines, we can help make our neighborhoods cleaner and quieter,” said Ron Jarvis, Chief Sustainability Officer for The Home Depot in a statement. “By working with our suppliers to bring innovative and sustainable products to every aisle of our store, we can help our customers create more sustainable homes and workplaces.”
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Experts have noted that achieving sustainability is a long-term strategy, not just a single action. Home Depot is tackling the challenge on multiple fronts, and the retailer puts an emphasis on listening, researching and responding to new issues from workers across the company as well as outside parties.
