We’ve been inspiring a life long love of science since 1817 and in that time, we have seen many changes in the world around us. We believe we can be the positive change for future generations, their education and environment. We are passionate about placing sustainability at the heart of everything we do, from our products and services, right through to empowering science departments with expert advice to educate about the environment we live in.
We have set ambitious targets for our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments to make the world a better place by 2025 and beyond. We’ve already made a start on doing good things. But there is more to be done.Follow our journey right here, including our part of the Findel family.
We’re now leading the change by taking something away, and as of April 2024 we’ll no longer be producing big, printed catalogues in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. Find out more here
TEN THINGS WE ARE DOING TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE BY 2025 AND BEYOND
Our ten ESG commitments
1. Giving children the right start
Our commitment
For several years, Philip Harris has partnered with Greggs to provide Breakfast Clubs to 5 schools and growing. This year Philip Harris will support further schools in 5 areas across the United Kingdom
Our progress so far
We will support an additional four Greggs Breakfast Clubs in the UK.
Our progress so far
We currently support one Greggs Breakfast Club close to our Greater Manchester headquarters and we are in the process of signing up additional clubs.
2. Zero landfill waste
Our commitment
By the end of 2023… We will continue our commitment to ensuring none of the waste from our two UK sites goes to landfill.
By the end of 2023...
Our waste streams and packaging waste will continue to be independently audited annually.
Our progress so far
Our waste streams are audited annually as part of our ISO14001 integrated management system audit. For the packaging waste we produce, this is controlled under “The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations” for which we do an annual submission via Valpak.
3. Embracing equality, diversity and inclusion
Our commitment
By 2025, we will have a well-established culture of diversity and inclusion, in which all Findel colleagues feel a strong sense of belonging to our organisation and are able to thrive. This will be championed by our leaders who we will train in inclusive leadership practices.
By the end of 2023…
We will continue to grow a culture of diversity and inclusion to support all our colleagues.
Our progress so far
Our mental health and well-being provision is now an established part of our colleagues. We have developed a diversity and inclusion roadmap, which takes us one step further by enabling better business outcomes through a more diverse workforce that reflects the communities and customers we serve.
4. Improving our UK parcel distribution emissions
Our commitment
By 2025 we will be monitoring and reducing our Scope3 emissions in our supply chain, including wider distribution of our UK parcels on electric only vehicles.
By the end of 2023…
Keep working towards reducing the Scope3 emissions in our UK supply chain.
Our progress so far
We are currently partnered with DPD for outbound logistics, who are the leading green parcel carrier for UK deliveries.
5. Supporting sustainable education
Our commitment
By 2025 we will have developed resources and content to help teach sustainability and climate change in schools.
By the end of 2023…
Develop resources and content to help teach sustainability in schools.
Our progress so far
We launched our Environmental Science hub in 2022, packed with resources and inspiring activities to try. Our buying and curricular teams continue to explore new resources and engaging content to support teaching about sustainability.
6. Charitable support
Our commitment
By the end of 2023… The Findel Foundation will help further support causes that benefit children, their education and their environment in the United Kingdom. Philip Harris will support by providing donations and gifts of products, sponsorships and in-kind support.
By the end of 2023…
We will launch the Findel Foundation to colleagues and explore even more ways to support causes which benefit children and education in the UK.
Our progress so far
We have supported Derian House Children’s Hospice by organising colleague fundraising activities, provided sponsorships of science learning engagement programmes and donated goods and vouchers to schools close to our main locations in Greater Manchester and Nottingham.
7. Supporting local communities
Our commitment
By 2028 over 30% of our Findel colleagues in permanent locations are engaged in 15 hours or more volunteering to support children and their education. Philip Harris will support with career development in the sciences, outreach projects related to science and supporting environmental science projects.
By the end of 2023…
Keep encouraging our colleagues to participate in community volunteering activities.
Our progress so far
Since launching our volunteering policy in January 2022, Philip Harris colleagues have taken part in community volunteering activities including science activities delivered to year 6 pupils and career opportunities in science talks.
8. Reducing carbon footprint
Our commitment
By 2030 we will be a carbon-neutral business, using 100% renewable electricity across our entire operations, investing in infrastructure and credible carbon o4setting, in line with limited global warming to 1.5oC
By the end of 2023…
Extend our LED lighting conversion across the rest of our distribution centre.
Our progress so far
In 2020 we switched the energy supply for our two UK sites to a renewable supply. In October 2022, the gas supply was also switched to green gas, supporting significant reductions across both our Scope1 and Scope2 emissions and our Science Based Targets initiative pathway. All external lighting at our UK distribution centre has been converted to LED and projects are well underway to extend this across the entire site, in parallel with other energy-saving initiatives.
9. Sustainable sourcing
Our commitment
By 2028 we will have switched 45% of our Classmates product range for sustainable alternatives, or sustainably improved them with a focus on removing single-use plastics.
By the end of 2023…
Work towards switching 45% of our Classmates product range to sustainable alternatives.
Our progress so far
We have focused on improving the product packaging of our Classmates range in 2022, with 7% of the range already improved.
10. Sourcing responsibly
Our commitment
By 2028 we will ensure that 100% of our tier 1 suppliers in higher-risk markets, defined by the Global Slavery Index top 10 and the Corruption Index top 10, have a full ethical audit with credible and recent sector-specific assessments recognised by SEDEX.
By the end of 2023…
Start roll out of suppliers completing the SEDEX SAQ and uploading SMETA audits for high risk factories.
Our progress so far
We are now members of SEDEX and we are currently undergoing training on the SEDEX platform, to enable our suppliers to complete SEDEX SAQ and upload SMETA audits for high risk factories.
