ESG Framework - Governance

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.

Governance: This involves the internal systems we use to govern ourselves, make effective decisions, comply with the law, and meet the needs of external stakeholders. It includes our policies on corporate governance, ethics, and transparency.

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 Governance areas in some more detail:

Compliance

Screening to ensure that our suppliers and partners remain compliant with all relevant laws and regulations is a core way in which Woodland Group practices risk management. While Denied Party Screening focuses on compliance, its application in sustainability shows the importance of ethical sourcing and supply chain management. By screening suppliers and partners for compliance with both general and sustainability standards, we can ensure we are not inadvertently supporting illegal practices, harming the environment or violating human rights. We conduct Denied Party Screenings regularly before engaging in new trade, and periodically to ensure continued, ongoing compliance.

Procurement and Supplier Management

Ethical sourcing is at the core of Woodland Group’s vision for a sustainable future. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines essential expectations for partners, including safe working conditions, ethical and legal labour practices, and respect. This code is aligned with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact to ensure a strong foundation for ethical sourcing practices. We aim to integrate social and environmental clauses into supplier contracts, relating to topics such as human rights, living wage, environment and emission reductions, in order for us to progress further in this area. We aim to ensure that 100% of our suppliers, with a spend over £25,000 per year, comply with our code of conduct by 2030.

Anti-Corruption and Bribery

At Woodland Group, ethical conduct is one of the main priorities of our company culture. Our extensive anti-corruption and anti-bribery policies and procedures are a testament to our commitment to ensuring compliance with all laws and safeguarding regulations. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bribery to ensure we stay protected against all potential risks. We therefore require all Woodland employees in high-risk environments to complete mandatory training on anti-bribery and anti-corruption. Our commitment to ethical practices is ongoing, and we continuously review and update our processes to ensure we remain a leader in responsible business conduct.

Cyber Security and Data Ethics

We are committed to the safeguarding of the privacy and security of stakeholders’ data at Woodland Group, recognising the importance of storing trusted information. With the help of cyber security professionals, we ensure the protection of sensitive data. We provide extensive, ongoing training to all employees on cyber security. We actively work towards a more secure digital environment for our company, so much so, that we have a target of delivering global implementation of Woodland Group’s zero trust network, transitioning 100% of staff by 2025.