Generating long-term value
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.
Sustainability matters
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.
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.
The importance of sustainable behaviour is recognised right through the business. The Board and Executive Committee reinforced their commitment in 2020 through a wide-ranging Strategic Review of our Environmental Social and Governance priorities, that we set out in our Sustainability report. The review clarified our ESG Vision for the future. It identified four main commitments, as well as a range of other potential targets and research projects. It included engaging with key stakeholders to test our assessment of our material ESG areas, as well as selecting our material United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
100%
of production waste reused, recovered or recycled in 2021
Carbon Neutral
Manufacturing achieved in 2021
99.1%
of depot waste avoided landfill 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
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.
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
Carbon neutral manufacturing
by the end of 2021.
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 by the end of 2021.
Highly effective
ESG reporting and
disclosure
Progressive, phased
implementation of high quality
TCFD reporting.
Implement the ISS ESG
reporting platform in 2021.
Underpinned by:
Our material sustainability areas
People
Keeping our 11,000
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 800
local communities
in the UK and
internationally.
Suipporting a range
of local and national
charities.
Historic Sustainability Reports
HOWDENS Making space more valuable
Business Model and Strategy
Depots
Sustainability
Community
Products
People and Careers
Financial Results
