Sustainability.
Ambition: Minimise the environmental impact of our operations and champion sustainability issues.
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
At Findel, our business is all about growing education for generations and it has never been more important than now to do so responsibly.
We won’t do what is easy, but instead what is necessary to play our part in building a sustainable future and creating a positive impact on society and the environment which children will inherit.
Core commitments
The green tick indicates where a commitment has already been independently certified to ISAE 3000/3410 assurance standards.
By the end of 2024… 
Our waste streams and packaging waste will continue to be independently audited annually.
Zero landfill waste.
Our commitment
We will ensure no waste from our two UK sites, as well as the packaging waste we have direct control over, goes to landfill.
Our progress
Our waste streams are externally audited annually as part of our ISO14001 integrated management system. This is in addition to our regular internal audits and other checks. Our packaging waste is controlled under both Shared Producer Responsibility and Extended Producer Responsibility strategies via our partner of choice Valpak, a leading provider of Environmental Compliance.
Findel selects its partners carefully to ensure absolute compliance and integrity. Valpak are widely regarded as the most experienced and largest service provider in this field and Findel are proud to maintain a long-standing relationship with them. With their extensive knowledge and expertise, nobody has done more to support the UK recycling infrastructure.
Improving our UK parcel distribution emissions.
Our commitment
By 2025 we will be monitoring and reducing the Scope 3 emissions in our supply chain, including wider distribution of our UK parcels on electric-only vehicles.
Our progress
Our parcel carrier of choice for outbound logistics is DPD who lead the way in green parcel deliveries across the UK. In FY23 just under 130,000 parcels of our parcels were delivered on electric-only vehicles whilst 95% of the remaining combustion fleet utilise HVO (renewable diesel fuel). DPD operate the largest electric fleet of any carrier in the UK.
By the end of 2024…
Keep working towards reducing the Scope3 emissions in our UK supply chain.
By the end of 2024… 
We will have a operate a smart building management system and have on-site renewable electricity.
Reducing our carbon footprint. 
Our commitment
Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity – it is here and now. Our ambition is to reduce the carbon footprint of those directly impacted by our activities – our people and our customers.
By 2030 latest, 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 1.5oC.
By 2040 latest, we will be a net-zero business, a commitment 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Our progress
In 2020 we switched our entire electricity supply to renewable and in 2022 our distribution centre (DC) gas supply was also switched to ‘green gas’ supporting significant reductions across both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Continued investment in 2023 has seen all lighting at our UK distribution centre now converted to a smart LED lighting system and in 2024 expanded to a wider smart Building Management System. Additional projects are planned in 2024 and beyond to deliver further reductions and bottom out our emissions as far as possible, including on-site renewable supply.
Where required we will invest in credible carbon offsetting projects (such as gold standard) to achieve neutrality. Whilst the carbon reduction value can’t be accounted for, we are proud to also support a multitude of tree planting projects. Visit the Findel Forest to find out more.
Our 2022 Scope 1 and 2 carbon reduction commitments are tied into both our sustainability linked loan facility and our approved Science Based Targets initiative pathway to be in line with 1.5oC and are subject to an annual assurance audit by RSM. In FY23 we exceeded performance in all areas, including emissions. 2022 also saw Findel join the We Mean Business Coalition.
In 2023, we extended our carbon reduction pathway to a net-zero commitment of 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. In doing so Findel’s pathway and action plan was accepted by The Climate Pledge.
The Science Based Targets initiative enables companies and institutions to understand how much and how quickly they must decarbonise to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Setting a science-based target is considered best practice in terms of climate target setting and is recognised by major sustainability reporting frameworks. By setting a science-based target we help lead the way to a zero-carbon economy, boost innovation and drive sustainable growth.
By the end of 2024… 
Work towards switching 45% of our Classmates product range to sustainable alternatives.
Sustainable sourcing.
Our commitment
By 2028 we will have switched 45% of our Classmates® (core) product range for sustainable alternatives, or sustainably improved them, with a focus on removing single-use plastics.
Our progress
We have focused on improving the product packaging of our Classmates range with 120 products (5.8%) improved in FY23 (against a target of 5%). Our sustainable sourcing commitment is tied into our sustainability linked loan facility and as such this progress has been assured by RSM. 72.5% of products changed saw a minimum single-use plastic reduction of 30% with the ultimate target always being 100%.
This progress is supported by a stringent new production introduction process and our Product Guidelines Manual, developed in partnership with Intertek. In FY24 our commitment is to improve this to a minimum of 10%.
Other key activities. 
Our core commitments outline our top focus areas for sustainability and detail the pledges which closely resonate with customers. There are however many more key activities which Findel undertakes to drive down emissions, reduce waste and minimise the other environmental impacts resulting from our business activities. These include:
- An on-demand packaging solution which reduces cardboard usage by 45%
- Minimising service failures to keep product returns and
replacements to an absolute minimum
- Extending the product lifecycle and encouraging a circular economy
- Green purchasing strategies and inbound supply chain
optimisation - Fewer and friendlier miles for outbound parcel and pallet deliveries
- Understanding our Scope 3 emissions in partnership with Plan A
- Future state eco-delivery options