Promoting Positive Change With Sustainability As Our Driving Force
We strive to be a force for good in the world that promotes real change. We're not a business that just ticks boxes.
Our strategy is based on three 'pillars'. They provide clear structure for targets, help track progress and let us recognise success.
Planet
We're already taking action to help our world but can still do more. We're committed to closely tracking and reducing output, not simply trading carbon credits.
People
Business ethics shouldn't only focus on audits, it should be about engagement and collaboration that fosters an atmosphere of continuous improvement with partners.
Product
Product can always be improved, even when raw materials are innately sustainable. We should constantly look to be fully traceable, optimise design and reduce wastage.
For our planet, we are:
Eliminating Plastic Packaging
It's about time. We'll remove all secondary plastic packaging from our imported stock and replace it with sustainable alternatives.
Timescale: 2026
Carbon Neutral Road Freight
By 2025 we plan to only use carbon neutral road hauliers in the UK. If we can't find one but it's an urgent shipment then we'll offset the emissions.
Achieved in 2023
Renewable Energy
We'll install renewable energy sources for our UK buildings by 2030. We'll install electric car chargers on-site, and power them with solar energy.
Achieved in 2023
For our people, we are:
Contracted Employment
Some production is carried out by groups that are not directly employed. We will ensure that all workers have formal contracts in place to ensure employment is protected.
Timescale: 2026
Education & Training
We'll set up a formal framework for educating and training. This will pass on key craft skills that need to be protected and offer both a skill for life and increased earnings.
Timescale: 2025
Sharing Success
We'll set up a profit sharing system. A fixed percentage will be passed directly to producers. Our workforce must be supported wherever they are.
Timescale: 2028
Supporting Local Charities
This year we wanted to support two local charities, as chosen by our colleagues. In 2024, we are delighted to be working with Mind in Somerset and Somerset Wildlands. Both charities align with two of our sustainable pillars - People and Planet.
Mind in Somerset’s core purpose is to provide services and support to anyone affected by mental illness, improving their quality of life and well-being. Somerset Wildlands is aimed at restoring lost life and wildness on The Somerset Levels through a process of rewilding.
For our product, we are:
Sustainable Raw Materials
We've worked hard to make sure that the vast majority of our products are sustainable. By 2025 at least 75% of our range will be made from sustainable materials.
Achieved in 2023
Vegan Gift Packaging
By 2025 we'll have a direct alternative for all key packaging lines that is 100% vegan. These items will allow customers to make an important choice that matters to them.
Achieved in 2023
Promoting UK Production
By 2025 we will on-shore production of one product range. This is important both to support our economy and reduce the length of supply chains.
Achieved in 2023
We're cutting our carbon footprint
We are working with Planet Mark to ensure we are cutting emissions across all areas of our business. Planet Mark provides us with third-party verification and holds us accountable. It requires us to make carbon emission reductions and continuous improvements to re-certify each year. As we look ahead to our 2024 goals, we have set a target to reduce our scope 1,2 and 3 carbon emissions and water usage by 5%.
View our Planet Mark certificate here.
We are committed to Net Zero
We are committed to reducing our impact at each step of the supply chain. Our ocean shipping is already carbon neutral, and always will be. We've teamed up with Gold Standard to make this happen.
Our warehouse electricity use is covered by solar PV on the roof. Our employees charge their EVs on site. Our UK freight is carried and offset by DPD. Step by step we are working to reduce our impact.
Ocean Freight
We're lucky, but not complacent. Ocean shipment generates nearly 100 times less emissions than air freight.
Stats are grams of CO2/Tonne/KM.
Road Freight
We actively look to work with road hauliers like DPD who have made their own carbon neutrality commitments.
Air Freight (747-400)
If clients need urgent samples that can't be sent in time by sea then we offset those air freight emissions too.
(Source: The Network For Transport & The Environment).