main content

OUR COMMITMENT

Our focus on ESG goes beyond meeting standards; it is about empowering our colleagues, supporting communities, and creating a lasting positive impact. By upholding these values, we believe we are contributing to a better future for all.

At the highest level, our Board of Directors and executive team maintain a focus on ESG, with a dedicated Board ESG Committee overseeing the development and implementation of key strategic sustainability initiatives. This structure helps embed ESG within our wider business strategy and objectives.

In the past year, we have laid the foundation for the future by refining our ESG roadmap, setting clear carbon reduction targets, strengthening our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) framework, and enhancing our people plans to promote inclusion and growth. These initiatives are complemented by outstanding community projects across the Group.

Frameworks like the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) help us identify risks, uncover opportunities, and adapt our business to ensure long-term climate resilience.

Our ESG roadmap is built around five key pillars: planet, people, product, packaging, and procurement—each underpinned by clear commitments and measurable targets. By reducing our environmental footprint and supporting the communities we serve, we are ensuring that our operations and products are fit for the future, driving meaningful and lasting change.

 

PLANET

We are committed to continuously evaluating our climate impact and exploring innovative solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. As part of this commitment, we have set a clear target of achieving a 40% relative reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across our global operations by 2040, using 2023 as the base year. This represents a strategic shift from our previous carbon-neutral approach, which included carbon offsets, towards a focus on direct emissions reductions with more impact.

Since 2020, we have been working closely with internal teams and external experts to measure and analyse our global GHG emissions. This has enabled us to identify key areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions.

We have already made progress, including the introduction of renewable energy tariffs where possible, the electrification of our UK fleet, and the implementation of energy-saving measures at our global sites. In 2024, our carbon reduction initiatives focused on upgrading key equipment such as the installation of energy-efficient boilers at our UK factory, streamlining operational offices to minimise energy consumption, and initiating plans to electrify our largest fleet, in Germany.

These initiatives are just the beginning. We remain committed to making continuous progress in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency to meet our emissions reduction target. With clear goals and actionable steps, we are working towards a more sustainable future for both our business and the planet.

PRODUCT & PACKAGING

We are developing clear design principles to guide the creation of more sustainable eyewear, products, and packaging. These principles will support progress towards our ESG Roadmap targets, including:

  • 50% of our eyewear frames made from bio-based or recycled materials such as bio-acetate, recycled acetate, Acetate Renew, and recycled metals by 2030.
  • 100% of our packaging to be recyclable, reusable, biodegradable or from bio-based sources by 2030.

We will continue to review our product offering and packing designs to ensure they reflect our sustainability goals and evolving customer expectations without compromising on quality or design. These efforts reflect our broader commitment to innovation and building a more responsible, future-fit business.

PROCUREMENT

We are committed to partnering exclusively with suppliers who meet high standards in social and environmental practices, and we will actively engage our Tier 1 suppliers to promote responsible business practices throughout their supply chains.

As we transition towards a more centralised procurement system, we aim to optimise sourcing and logistics while strengthening supplier relationships and ensuring consistent adherence to ESG standards.

By 2030, we will align all supplier agreements across the Group with our ESG values, implement a comprehensive Group Responsible Sourcing Code, and ensure our procurement processes continue to fully support and align with our sustainability commitments.

PEOPLE

We are committed to equipping our global teams with the tools for growth and supporting managers in fostering a more inclusive workplace. By focusing on lifelong skills, equal opportunities, and active engagement, we aim to build a transparent and positive culture. Our impact also extends beyond the workplace. We contribute to our communities by sharing our time, products and expertise to support local needs.

Our targets:

  • Deliver 12,500 hours of skills training and mentorship annually across all levels of the business, supporting both professional growth and personal development.
  • Ensure that each of our major operations participates in at least one local community project every year, furthering our commitment to social responsibility.
  • Maximise employee engagement by facilitating focus groups and creating spaces for open dialogue, enabling us to continuously improve the workplace experience.

Our role in the community remains a priority. In 2024, we continued supporting a variety of initiatives, including food bank projects in Germany and the USA, and a UK charity providing advice and access to assistive technologies for people living with sight loss. These projects demonstrate that even small contributions of time and support from our teams can drive meaningful change.

2024 Highlights

‘11,386 training hours completed globally in 2024’

‘25.3% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions (market-based) per £1M turnover compared to 2023’

 

 

We are proud that our ESG Roadmap and responsible business initiatives contribute to some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including but not limited to:

  • SGG 3 - Promote health and wellbeing
  • SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequality
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action

 

Read more on our ESG efforts in our Annual Report and Accounts 2024.pdf

We are committed to lasting change, with targets to reduce emissions, develop sustainable products and packaging, and support people and communities - all aligned with our fit-for-the-future strategic vision.

Robin Totterman
FOUNDER