Our ESG
commitments…
Hope’s mission is to be the daily inspiration that makes life easier for teachers, early years practitioners and educators. We provide all the tools needed to help children take on the challenges of the world, and we believe in caring for and protecting the futures of our youngest generation. We are passionate about placing sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
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 that we’re doing to help make the world a better place by 2025 - and beyond
1. Giving children the right start.
Our commitment
For several years, Hope has partnered with Greggs to provide Breakfast Clubs to 5 schools and growing. This year Hope will support further schools in 5 areas across the United Kingdom
Our progress so far
We currently support one Greggs Breakfast Club local to our Greater Manchester headquarters and we are in the process of signing up an additional four clubs.
We will support an additional four Greggs Breakfast Clubs in the UK.
2. Zero landfill waste.
Our commitment
We continue to ensure none of our waste from our two UK sites, as well as the packaging waste we have direct control over, goes to landfill.
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.
Our waste streams and packaging waste will continue to be independently audited annually.
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.
Our Progress so far
Our mental health and well-being provision is now an established part of our offer to 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.
We will continue to grow a culture of diversity and inclusion to support all our colleagues.
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.
Our Progress so far
We are currently partnered with DPD for outbound logistics, who are the leading green parcel carrier for UK deliveries.
Keep working towards reducing the Scope3 emissions in our UK supply chain.
5. Supporting education.
Our commitment
By 2025 we will have developed resources and content to help teach sustainability and climate change in schools.
Our Progress so far
Our buying and curricular teams have started to explore new resources and engaging content to support teaching about sustainability.
Develop resources and content to help teach sustainability in schools.
6. Charitable support.
Our commitment
The Findel Foundation will help further support causes that benefit children, their education and their environment in the United Kingdom. Hope will support by providing donations and gifts of products, sponsorships and in-kind support.
Our Progress so far
We have supported Derian House Children’s Hospice by organising colleague fundraising activities, provided sponsorships of school sports teams; and donated goods and vouchers to schools close to our main locations in Greater Manchester and Nottingham.
We will launch the Findel Foundation to colleagues and explore even more ways to support causes which benefit children and education in the UK.
7. Supporting local communities.
Our commitment
By 2028 we will ensure over 30% of our colleagues in permanent locations are engaged in 15 hours or more volunteering to support children and their education. For example, career development, supporting children who are subject to deprivation, or creating engaging spaces to contribute towards the health and wellbeing of children.
Our Progress so far
Since launching our volunteering policy in January 2022, Hope colleagues have taken part in community volunteering activities including projects at local schools within our communities, planting trees and career talks to local pupils.
Keep encouraging our colleagues to participate in community volunteering activities.
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 offsetting, in line with limited global warming to 1.5 oC.
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
Extend our LED lighting conversion across the rest of our distribution centre.
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.
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.
Work towards switching 45% of our Classmates product range to sustainable alternatives.
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.
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.
Start roll out of suppliers completing the SEDEX SAQ and uploading SMETA audits for high risk factories.
