Why sustainability matters to us

 

Howdens is a growing business. Sustainable behaviour will help us continue to grow in a way that preserves our culture, supports our business model, mitigates our risks, and addresses the needs of our stakeholders.

Part of our culture

We describe the Howdens culture as being ‘worthwhile for all concerned’ and ‘creating the conditions that allow everyone to succeed’. That means that our business needs to be worthwhile for our staff, our customers, our suppliers, the environment, and the communities we work in.

Supporting our business model

Sustainable behaviour also gives us a competitive advantage. Lowest cost production in our dedicated UK factories leads naturally to minimising waste, energy, and raw materials. Our mission statement aim of ‘no-call-back quality’ means that we need to produce and source product which is durable and safe.

Being trusted partners to our suppliers and customers means that our relationships need to be worthwhile for all parties concerned over the long-term.

We have over 850 depots in the UK and Europe. Each one of them relies on strong local relationships to trade profitably, so we need to be a good neighbour in each of those communities.

Mitigating our risks

Sustainable behaviour helps us to address some of our principal risks. For example, we invest in keeping our people safe, developing their skills, and offering them a great place to work. We do this because it’s the right thing to do, but it also mitigates our ‘Health & Safety’ and ‘Loss of key personnel’ risks.

Developing and maintaining sustainable supplier relationships mitigates our ‘Interruption to Continuity of supply’ risk. Energy efficient, safe and durable product mitigates our ‘Product design relevance’ risk.

100%
 

Zero waste to landfill in our manufacturing and distribution in 2022

99.7%
 

Zero waste to landfill in our network of over 850 depots in 2022

Carbon Neutral

Manufacturing achieved in 2021

Our Vision

UK's leading responsible
kitchen business

A sustainable product offering,
responsibly manufactured or sourced,
that meets the needs of the builder and
the end-consumer
 

sustainability2021-980

A unique and
sustainable culture

Maintaining and building on our culture
of being worthwhile for all concerned.
Continuing to grow a sustainable
business that appeals to current and
future stakeholders.

Leader in risk and
resilience governance

An agile and resilient business,
proactively managing ESG risks, with
transparent high-quality stakeholder
reporting.
 

housing-557x485

Represented by:

Our four strategic commitments

Zero waste to
landfill

Maintain zero waste to
landfill in manufacturing and
distribution. Zero waste to
landfill in depots over time,
with target of less than 5% by
end of 2022.

Carbon neutral
manufacturing

Achieve carbon neutral
manufacturing by the
end of 2021 and
maintain that status as
the business grows.

Best practice in UK
behavioural safety
and wellbeing

Maintain international
safety standard ISO 45001
in our manufacturing and
distribution operations.
Achieve ISO45001 in our
depot network.

Highly effective
ESG reporting and
disclosure

Progressive, phased
implementation of high quality
reporting.

Underpinned by:

Our material sustainability areas

People
 

Keeping our 12,000
employees safe and
well. Supporting
their growth, offering
them great rewards
for success, and
opportunities to grow
with us.

Sustainable
supply chain

Certified raw materials
from sustainable
sources. Responsible
purchasing, working
with our international
network of over
250 main suppliers.
Efficient distribution.

Sustainable
product

Continuous research
and evolution of
our products and
packaging. Refining our
efficient manufacturing
processes and working
with our suppliers on
bought-in product.

Our
environment

Reducing waste,
lowering emissions,
working with The
Carbon Trust to
achieve continuing
improvements.

Communities
 

Being a responsible
member of over 850
local communities
in the UK and
internationally.
Supporting a range
of local and national
charities.

Historic Sustainability Reports

HOWDENS Making space more valuable

Business Model and Strategy

Find out more about our business model and strategy, the markets in which we operate and our strategic approach to protect our unique business model and ensure that the business continues to grow.

Depots

As a familiar sight across towns and cities in the UK and Europe, our depots are always within easy reach, so a trade professional never has far to travel to find their nearest Howdens. Get to know more about how each one operates.

Sustainability

Our sustainable behaviour is at the heart of our business and enables us to reduce some of our risks. We take great pride in ensuring that our business positively impacts the world around us and the people within it.

Community

We are passionate about supporting the local communities we operate in, which is why our depots and support staff actively seek ways to give something back. Whether it is running half marathons or sponsoring local Scout groups, discover the many ways we help good causes.

Products

With around 80 kitchen ranges, our exclusive Lamona appliance brand, and thousands of products across joinery and hardware, learn why our builders have come to trust the range and quality of the products we offer.

People and Careers

The Sunday Times named Howdens as one of the top 25 big companies to work for. Discover why Howdens is a great place to work, how we develop our people and reward them, whilst building a culture with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Financial Results

Download copies of the latest financial results for Howdens both past and present including the associated presentations and Interim Management Statements released between results announcements.

Governance

Howdens is a responsible business which was founded on the tenet that the Company should be worthwhile for all concerned, with a commitment to the people within its reach and the wider world. Here we provide the links to the framework that informs our decisions and outcomes.