ESG
Meeting the needs of today, ensuring a better tomorrow.
Investors and consumers have sharpened their focus on environmental, social and governance issues. Through technology and operational excellence, we are priming our business for the future so you can do the same.
A sustainable future
ESG principles are at the core of our business. We are committed to making a positive impact on people and the planet by adopting sustainable practices, treating our workers, suppliers, and communities with respect, and ensuring absolute transparency through compliance with government guidelines. With the growing demand for responsible practices, we are ready to support you in achieving your ESG goals and building a more sustainable, ethical future.
Carbon Reduction
75%
Effective annual emission reduction by extending useful life to 10 years through re-purposing
12%
Additional reduction through change of source country
46%
Drop since 2018 due to decreased fleet fuel consumption and efficient GPS route mapping
43%
Reduction of total emissions reduction through material change
Achieving B Corp certification
We’re proud to obtain B Corp status with a score of 84.9 points! This certification is awarded to businesses that meet stringent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Much like globally recognised certifications such as LEED for sustainable building, B Corp Certification ensures firms are held to the highest ethical standards, reaffirming our commitment to creating a lasting, positive impact on people and the planet.
Our journey
We began working towards B Corp in February 2023, and after 1.5 years of dedicated work, we achieved certification in August 2024. Our teams have driven various sustainability and social initiatives across the business, ensuring we meet the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility.
Why B Corp matters
B Corp Certification places us among a community of businesses that are redefining success in business. Like other globally recognised certifications, such as Fair Trade and LEED for sustainable building, B Corp Certification ensures that we are held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. Our certification is a clear signal to our stakeholders that David Phillips is committed not just to financial success, but also to making a lasting positive impact on the world.
Our approach to ESG
Governance
Success was driven by existing certifications (ISO, FORS, CHAS, SafeContractor), we also introduced a robust Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure suppliers meet ethical business practices such as fair pay.
Workers
Implemented the Living Wage, introduced a Death-in-service benefit, enhanced our Health Plan, and launched a new People HR system to support staff wellbeing and improve communication across our workforce.
Community
Supported UK businesses by using local suppliers and partnered with the Reuse Network to donate furniture to charitable initiatives, boosting their fundraising and outreach efforts.
Our impact
1,073
Days of work experience provided in a range
of sectors for London based children’s inner
city charity XLP
1,250
Working days provided for young ex-offenders, with potential to grow into full-time roles
Environment
Created ambitious EMS targets to reduce wastage, transitioned to a renewable electricity supplier, invested in carbon offsetting, and introduced product carbon assessments to help customers make data-driven decisions.
Customers
Enhanced ISO and Quality Assurance policies, improving customer feedback mechanisms to ensure high standards and driving continuous improvement across our operations.
Release
Driven by the need to reduce furniture waste and minimise landfill impact, we created Release, our furniture take-back scheme. By collecting, refurbishing, and either selling, donating, or reusing unwanted furniture, we help extend its lifespan and contribute to a circular economy. Through Release, we’ve supported local communities such as The Phoenix Community Hub, and charities such as Bright Sparks, and Groundwork Caerphilly in partnership with the ReUse Network. We’ve also donated furniture to Get Living’s social housing project at East Village, Sunflower House. By helping individuals combat furniture poverty, we improve their quality of living, creating a more stable living environment.
Intelligent insights
We empower our customers to make smarter, more sustainable choices with our custom-built procurement and asset management tool, vamos, alongside our Carbon Calculator. These innovative technologies provide a clear understanding of your furniture's asset value, condition, performance, and embodied carbon emissions, helping you make informed decisions for furniture selection and replenishment. By using our advanced technology, you can align furniture choices with your ESG goals, ensuring that your business enhances its operational efficiency and contributes positively to environmental sustainability.
Our B Corp Report
We report on our ESG progress annually. Doing so ensures we remain transparent and maintain momentum on our efforts. You can find out more about our strategy and our stats in our recent report.
