ESG Framework - Environmental

What ESG Means to Us

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are a helpful way to categorise work done by companies to act sustainably. At Woodland Group, ESG principles guide our commitment to sustainable and ethical practices across all aspects of our business.

Environmental: This focuses on how we manage our impact on the planet. It includes our efforts to reduce carbon emissions, manage waste, and promote biodiversity.

By integrating ESG principles into our business strategy, we aim to create long-term value for our stakeholders while contributing positively to society and the environment. Let’s take a look into the Environmental areas in some more detail:

Understanding Our Emissions - Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions

At Woodland Group, we categorise our emissions into three scopes to better understand and manage our environmental impact:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources we own or control. For example, emissions from our domestic vehicle fleet.

Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the energy we purchase and use, such as electricity for our offices and warehouses, and gas for boilers.

Scope 3: Emissions from our supply chain, including waste, recycling, packaging, employee commuting, and third-party freight forwarding.

These emissions often constitute the most significant portion of our total greenhouse gas emissions.

Our Commitment to Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality

Net Zero - Woodland Group is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This means reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to a baseline year (2021) and offsetting the remaining emissions through high-quality removal offset credits. Our public net zero roadmap outlines our plans and targets to reach this goal.

Carbon Neutrality - While net zero focuses on reducing emissions as much as possible, carbon neutrality involves balancing emitted carbon with carbon absorption, primarily through the purchase of carbon credits. Although achieving carbon neutrality is a step in the right direction, long-term climate goals require systemic changes and actual emission reductions.

Promoting a Circular Economy

The circular economy model emphasises the importance of sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products for as long as possible. At Woodland Group, we aim to limit waste to landfill to no more than 10% per year by 2030, and zero waste to landfill by 2050. In 2023, only 37% of our global waste and 25% of our UK waste was sent to landfill. We are also committed to reducing single-use plastics in our operations, particularly in packaging and pallet wrap.

Enhancing Biodiversity

Protecting biodiversity is crucial for sustaining our society and economy. In 2023, we held our first Environ(Mental) Day at our Hayes office, engaging staff in activities like building bee hotels, planting wildflower bulbs, and installing bird boxes. These initiatives, made from recycled materials, highlight the importance of biodiversity and our commitment to improving natural surroundings around our sites.

Environmental Achievements

Renewable Energy Initiatives - In December 2023, we installed 230 solar panels at our Hayes site, which are projected to generate at least 48.6% of our annual energy needs. This initiative is part of our broader goal to transition to 100% renewable energy across all Woodland Group facilities by 2030.

Waste Management and Recycling - Our partnership with Go Green has significantly improved our waste management practices. In 2023, 75% of our UK waste was recycled or recovered, and we aim to reduce waste to landfill to no more than 10% by 2030.

Sustainable Supply Chain Solutions - We continue to expand our Sustainable Supply Chain Solutions program, offering detailed carbon reporting and consultancy to help our clients reduce their supply chain emissions. This includes promoting the use of alternative fuels and optimising transport routes.