Portmeirion Group PLC
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:8532 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:7000.3 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:1448.2 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:11.6 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:60%
Total Energy Consumption:40,355,877 kWh/year
Carbon Intensity:2.25 tonnes of CO2e per tonne of saleable product
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Successful energy saving initiatives in Stoke-on-Trent manufacturing process leading to substantial savings in energy, cost and processing time
- Continued use of wind power at Lake District manufacturing site
- Recycling manufacturing waste and utilising recyclable packaging materials where possible
- 100% of waste clay and glaze at our Portmeirion UK Stoke-on-Trent site is reused within our manufacturing processes
- Nearly 60% of the energy used at Wax Lyrical’s production site in Cumbria during 2020 was provided by wind turbine
Social Achievements
- Adapted work practices to make Covid-19 secure, taking all suggestions and concerns of employees into account to safeguard their health and wellbeing
- Portmeirion UK was rated at ‘sustained compliance’ by HM Specialist Inspector of Health and Safety for Covid-19 secure practices
- Portmeirion UK published its gender pay gap statistics in April 2020 which noted a reduction from 13.9% in April 2019 to 12.4%
- 100% of our employees received training during 2020
- Portmeirion UK and Wax Lyrical are officially recognised as Investors in People at gold level
- Provided donations of products and hand sanitiser to local charities, the NHS and care homes during 2020
Governance Achievements
- Complied with all principles of the QCA Corporate Governance Code throughout the year
- Board strengthened with two new Executive Directors and one Non-executive Director
Climate Goals & Targets
Medium-term Goals:
- Own website sales to represent at least 20% of total Group sales
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce cost per unit by 10% by the end of 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Covid-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to retail markets and supply chains
- High levels of product re-shipped from other markets impacted South Korean sales
- Accelerated shift of retail sales to online channels due to lockdowns
Mitigation Strategies
- Increased investment in online channels and fulfilment capabilities
- Took steps to reduce parallel shipping of products into South Korea
- Repurposed home fragrance factory to manufacture hand sanitiser for NHS and other customers
- Developed alternative sourcing strategies
- Reorganised export sales teams to accelerate growth in new markets
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: QCA Corporate Governance Code
Certifications: Investors in People Gold
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Reed diffusers using a natural blend to reduce carbon footprint
Awards & Recognition
- Investors in People Gold
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Supply Chain Sustainability
- Community Engagement
- Employee Wellbeing
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved '0% to landfill' at Stoke-on-Trent ceramic manufacturing site
Social Achievements
- Retained UK Investors in People Platinum accreditation
Governance Achievements
- Established a new Sustainable Business Board Committee
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve Net Zero by 2040 across Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Medium-term Goals:
- Achieve Net Zero by 2040 across Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Short-term Goals:
- Move beyond existing legal requirements for our supply chain, reviewing all our suppliers based on specified Portmeirion Group standards by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing Scope 3 emissions
- Improving supply chain transparency
- Decarbonizing ceramics manufacturing
Mitigation Strategies
- Developing a Group-wide biodiversity plan
- Working with suppliers to apply Portmeirion Group people principles
- Developing a pathway to Net Zero across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Applying Portmeirion Group people principles across the value chain
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:7084.1 + 237.2 tCO2e (Stoke-on-Trent + Lake District)
Scope 1 Emissions:7322.2 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:1357.6 tCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:21.1 tCO2e
Renewable Energy Share:55% (Wax Lyrical)
Total Energy Consumption:44,562,288 + 1,701,829 kWh (Stoke-on-Trent + Lake District)
Waste Generated:1047 tons (Stoke-on-Trent)
Carbon Intensity:3.37 tCO2e per tonne of saleable product (Stoke-on-Trent)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced carbon emission per tonne of saleable product by 10% in Stoke-on-Trent factory.
- 55% of energy used at Wax Lyrical operation was provided by wind turbine.
- 0% waste going to landfill from the Stoke-on-Trent operation. 61% of waste recycled.
Social Achievements
- Both UK businesses achieved Investor in People Platinum level accreditation.
- Positive unplanned Health and Safety Executive (HSE) audit.
- At least 93% “in favour” proxy votes from shareholders on each resolution at the 2022 AGM.
- Successfully achieved ISO 22716:2007 accreditation for cosmetic products.
- Home Fragrance manufacturing site certified in ISO 9001:2015.
Governance Achievements
- Complied with all principles of the QCA Code throughout 2022.
- Adopted updated articles of association at the Annual General Meeting.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net zero emissions (implied).
Medium-term Goals:
- Improve operating margins to 10% (medium-term target) and 12.5% (long-term ambition).
- Double rest of world sales against 2020 base.
- Build three new sizeable international markets.
Short-term Goals:
- Publish new sustainable business strategy and roadmap in first half of 2023.
Environmental Challenges
- Ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty impacting consumer spending.
- Supply chain disruptions and inflation.
- Cost of living crisis impacting consumer demand in UK and home fragrance category.
- Weaker trading in Europe due to the war in Ukraine.
Mitigation Strategies
- Diversified sales markets and online sales channels.
- Investment in factory automation and productivity gains.
- Acquisition of AromaWorks London brand to improve home fragrance division.
- Investment in online and digital capabilities.
- Close relationships with key customers and suppliers.
- Cost reduction initiatives.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Suppliers required to complete SEDEX audits.
Responsible Procurement
- SEDEX audits
- Working with suppliers to remove or reduce single-use plastics.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: QCA Corporate Governance Code 2018
Certifications: ISO 22716:2007, ISO 9001:2015, Investor in People Platinum
Awards & Recognition
- Employee Engagement Award
- Decarbonisation in Action Award
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Renewable Energy Share:58% (Wax Lyrical)
Waste Generated:857 tons/year (UK operations)
Carbon Intensity:8.5% increase in UK Ceramics – tonnes of CO2e per tonne of saleable product; 26% decrease in UK Home Fragrance – tonnes of CO2e per tonne of saleable product
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate change
- Employee well-being
- Community engagement
- Supply chain sustainability
Environmental Achievements
- Energy usage reduced by 8% compared to the prior year.
- 15% reduction in total waste generated in 2023 compared to 2022. 59% is recycled and the remaining waste is repurposed, contributing to our 0% landfill rate.
- 58% of energy used at Wax Lyrical operation in 2023 was provided by wind turbine
Social Achievements
- Launched a new sustainability roadmap entitled ‘Crafting a Better Future’
- Both UK businesses are Investors in People Platinum level accredited.
- 53 product donations to local charities
- Over £10,000 donated to local causes
Governance Achievements
- Appointment of Jeremy Wilson as a Non-executive Director
- Establishment of a Business Sustainability Committee
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 across our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Medium-term Goals:
- Understand our global nature footprint and develop a Group wide biodiversity plan.
- Enhance our materiality assessment to understand more about our Scope 3 emissions.
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions for UK operations by 30% by 2025
- All new company vehicles will be fully electric where possible.
- Achieve ‘0% to landfill’ across entire UK business
- Eliminate single use plastics throughout our operations
Environmental Challenges
- Weaker global consumer spending, particularly in North America and South Korea due to inflation and interest rate rises.
- Supply chain disruptions and inflationary impact on consumer spending.
- Higher cost of capital impacting profitability of the home fragrance division.
Mitigation Strategies
- Cost base restructuring resulting in anticipated 10% lower overhead costs in 2024.
- Investments in factory automation and productivity gains to offset input cost inflation.
- Focus on working capital efficiency, reducing inventory by 13%.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Ethical trading code of conduct
- SEDEX audits
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
- Raw material availability
- Energy price volatility
- Supply chain changes
- Increased regulatory requirements
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Expansion of renewable energy capacity
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD
Certifications: Investor in People Platinum (UK businesses)