Our Environmental Management System is certified to the ISO14001 standard. This system comprises context review, policy and procedure development, training delivery and audits to drive continual improvement of our environmental performance. The system is overseen by our Environmental Working Group, with representatives from our offices, factory and warehouse sites at South Shields.

77% of our global electricity use came from renewable energy sources in FY2024. We are working to increae this figure further and to increase the use of onsite renewables across our estate. We extended our South Shields warehouse in 2023 and included a range of renewable technologies including an air source heat pump and a 336 kWp PV solar array.

Our all-staff Travel Survey has helped us to identify a range of steps that we can take to help facilitate lower emission travel for staff across our global estate. Recent improvements include the installation of eight EV charging points at our head office, warehouse and factory. 

Our estate comprises of limited external space but we are keen to do what we can to maximise how these spaces can best support nature. We developed our first Biodiversity Action Plan in 2023 with kind support from experts at Northumbria University. 

We have now completed our first set of onsite biodiversity projects at our sites in South Shields including:

• planting of native hedging including Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Hornbeam and Guelder Rose.

• removing grass from an area of mown lawn and planting wildflower seed mix.

• installing multiple bird boxes in trees across the site.

Our next steps will see us try to quantify the impact of these initiatives. If these projects are successful, we will seek to replicate these in other external areas.