Ulferts International Limited
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020-2021, 2021-04 to 2022-03, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31)
Reporting Period: 2020-2021
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Workplace
- Operating Practices
- Community
Environmental Achievements
- Adopted energy-efficient LED light bulbs in most stores
- Some showrooms joined the “Charter on External Lighting”, switching off external lighting after midnight
- Certain stores received “Gold Award” in the “Charter on External Lighting Award Scheme”
- Implemented paperless leave applications processing
- Adopted duplex printing and copying, reducing paper consumption
Social Achievements
- Provided comprehensive benefits such as employer’s voluntary MPF contributions, medical coverage, life insurance and extra paid annual leave
- Each employee is entitled to one day of birthday leave
- Established a designated private space in the office building to support breastfeeding female employees
- Arranged AED awareness training course for staff
- Organized various employee engagement activities (Mid-Autumn Festival Delicacies, Christmas Lucky Draw, Chinese New Year Online Celebration)
Governance Achievements
- Established policies and procedures for anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing
- Established guidelines on giving and receiving gifts, interacting with government officials
- Adopted a whistleblowing policy and procedures
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Short-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions due to Covid-19 lockdowns and prolonged production lead times
- Covid-19 pandemic impacting training and operations
Mitigation Strategies
- Kept more stock to cater for contingencies
- Implemented flexible working hours, work from home arrangements, and provided lunch boxes during the pandemic
- Provided surgical masks, disinfectant hand sanitisers and vitamin products to frontline staff
- Shortened business hours of showrooms when the pandemic was severe
- Required all staff to undergo a Covid-19 test every month starting January 2021
- Granted two leave days for each employee after receiving the Covid-19 vaccination
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Selection of suppliers based on quality, price, delivery timeliness, supplier's capability and experience
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Caring Company Logo by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
- Quality Service Programme – Seasonal Quality Service Leader (Furniture & Home Accessories Category), Apr – Jun 2020 and Jul – Sep 2020
- Quality Service Programme – 2020 Quality Service Retailer of the Year (Furniture & Home Accessories Category)
- Service Talent Award 2020 – Anti-Pandemic Award (Bronze)
- Market Leadership Award
Reporting Period: 2021-04 to 2022-03
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:107,027 kgCO2e
Scope 1 Emissions:N/A
Scope 2 Emissions:100,631 kgCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:6,396 kgCO2e
Total Energy Consumption:857 GJ
Water Consumption:368 m3
Waste Generated:5,270 kg
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Protection
- Workplace Quality
- Operating Practices
- Community Involvement
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced energy consumption intensity by 0.01 GJ/m2 from 0.09 to 0.08 GJ/m2 in selected locations.
- Reduced total GHG emissions by 16,944 kgCO2e from 123,971 to 107,027 kgCO2e in selected locations.
- Implemented energy-efficient LED light bulbs in most showrooms and energy-saving LED fluorescent tubes in the Head Office.
- Participation in the “Charter on External Lighting”, resulting in some showrooms receiving “Gold Award”.
Social Achievements
- Maintained a high level of employee satisfaction and engagement, with 42% of staff having worked for the Group for five years or more.
- Reduced lost days due to work injuries from 197 to 30.
- Organized various employee engagement activities such as Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and Winter Solstice events.
- Implemented a comprehensive training system covering corporate culture, personal competencies, management skills, and induction training for new hires.
Governance Achievements
- Established policies and procedures for anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and counter-terrorist financing.
- Implemented a whistle-blowing policy and procedures.
- Complied with relevant laws and regulations, including the Employment Ordinance, Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce energy consumption by 5% in selected locations by FY2026/2027.
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions due to Covid-19, including lockdowns of suppliers’ factories, prolonged production lead-times, and delayed shipments.
- Potential risks of climate change, including increased energy consumption and potential disruptions to operations and customer visits due to extreme weather.
Mitigation Strategies
- Increased stock levels to cater for contingencies.
- Continued monitoring of climate change risks and implementation of preventive and emergency measures.
- Continued efforts to control energy consumption and carbon emissions.
- Set a target to reduce energy consumption by 5% in selected locations by FY2026/2027.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Preference given to suppliers who demonstrate their environmental commitment.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather may affect the Group's supply chain and operation of showrooms, and deter customers from visiting its showrooms.
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
Awards & Recognition
- Quality Service Programme – Seasonal Quality Service Leader (Furniture & Home Accessories Category) Apr – Jun 2021 and Oct – Dec 2021
- Quality Service Programme – 2021 Quality Service Retailer of the Year (Furniture & Home Accessories Category)
- Certificate of Outlet Anti-epidemic Measures Recognition
- Yahoo Asia Big Idea Chair Awards 2021 – Best Search Campaign Merit
- Hong Kong Top Brand Mark
- Caring Company Logo
Reporting Period: 2021-2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:107,027 kgCO2e
Scope 1 Emissions:N/A
Scope 2 Emissions:100,631 kgCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:6,396 kgCO2e
Total Energy Consumption:857 GJ
Water Consumption:368 m3
Waste Generated:5,270 kg (general refuse)
Carbon Intensity:9.5 kgCO2e/m2
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Protection
- Workplace Quality
- Operating Practices
- Community Involvement
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced total GHG emissions from 123,971 kgCO2e to 107,027 kgCO2e.
- Reduced energy consumption from 1,058 GJ to 857 GJ.
- Improved energy consumption intensity from 0.09 GJ/m2 to 0.08 GJ/m2.
- Reduced general refuse disposed to landfills from 5,255 kg to 5,270 kg.
- Maintained a low water consumption intensity of 0.03 m3/m2.
Social Achievements
- Maintained a high employee retention rate with 42% of staff working for the Group for five years or more.
- Reduced lost days due to work injuries from 197 to 30.
- Implemented various employee wellbeing initiatives, including birthday leave, breastfeeding support, and flexible working hours.
- Provided comprehensive training programs, resulting in an increase in average training hours per employee from 6 to 10.
Governance Achievements
- Established an ESG Policy and delegated responsibility to the ESG Work Team and Executive Committee.
- Implemented strict compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including the Employment Ordinance, Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
- Adopted a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and bribery, with regular anti-corruption training.
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce energy consumption by 5% in selected locations by FY2026/2027.
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions due to Covid-19 lockdowns and prolonged production lead times.
- Potential impacts of climate change on energy consumption, supply chain, and showroom operations.
Mitigation Strategies
- Increased stock levels to cater for contingencies.
- Continued monitoring of climate change risks and implementation of preventive and emergency measures.
- Active efforts to control energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Frequent visits to supplier workplaces to promote proper labor standards.
Responsible Procurement
- Criteria for supplier selection include quality, price, delivery timeliness, supplier’s capability and experience, with preference given to suppliers who demonstrate their environmental commitment.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather affecting supply chain and showroom operations.
Transition Risks
- Increased energy consumption due to rising global temperatures.
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
Awards & Recognition
- Gold Award in the “Charter on External Lighting Award Scheme”
- Quality Service Programme – Seasonal Quality Service Leader (Furniture & Home Accessories Category)
- Quality Service Programme – 2021 Quality Service Retailer of the Year (Furniture & Home Accessories Category)
- Certificate of Outlet Anti-epidemic Measures Recognition (Ulferts & atghome)
- Yahoo Asia Big Idea Chair Awards 2021 – Best Search Campaign Merit
- Hong Kong Top Brand Mark (Ulfenbo)
Reporting Period: 2022-2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:102,601 kgCO2e
Scope 1 Emissions:N/A
Scope 2 Emissions:94,993 kgCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:7,608 kgCO2e
Total Energy Consumption:804 GJ
Water Consumption:216 m3
Waste Generated:5,217 kg (general refuse)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Protection
- Workplace Quality
- Operating Practice
- Community Involvement
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced GHG emissions from 107,027 kgCO2e to 102,601 kgCO2e
- Reduced GHG emissions intensity from 9.5 kg/m2 to 7.9 kg/m2
- Reduced energy consumption from 857 GJ to 804 GJ
- Reduced energy consumption intensity from 0.08 GJ/m2 to 0.06 GJ/m2
- Reduced general refuse disposed to landfills from 5,270 kg to 5,217 kg
- Increased total recycled waste from 533 kg to 634 kg
- Reduced water consumption from 368 m3 to 216 m3
- Reduced water consumption intensity from 0.03 m3/m2 to 0.02 m3/m2
- Implemented energy-saving initiatives in head office, showrooms, and warehouse (LED lights, energy-saving appliances, etc.)
- Participated in a green deposit program
Social Achievements
- Maintained a relatively low staff turnover rate among managerial positions
- 47% of staff worked for the Group for five years or more (2023)
- Organized staff activities to promote work-life balance (stretching classes, massage services, yoga classes, etc.)
- Provided comprehensive training to enhance employee skills and knowledge
- Implemented a breastfeeding-friendly workplace
- Established grievance procedures for staff complaints
- Complied with the Employment Ordinance and other statutory requirements
Governance Achievements
- Established an ESG Committee and an Executive Committee to oversee ESG matters
- Adopted an ESG Policy
- Complied with the provisions of the HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
- Implemented anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies and procedures
- No legal cases regarding corrupt practices were brought against the Group or its employees during the reporting period
- No whistle-blowing concerning a criminal offense or misconduct was reported
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce energy consumption by 5% in selected locations by FY2026/2027
Environmental Challenges
- Potential risks of climate change (increased energy consumption, supply chain disruptions, etc.)
- Managing environmental and social risks in the supply chain
Mitigation Strategies
- Monitoring potential risks of climate change and implementing preventive and emergency measures
- Controlling energy consumption and carbon emissions
- Frequently visiting supplier workplaces to promote proper labor standards
- Terminating contracts with suppliers who use child or forced labor
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Preference given to suppliers who demonstrate environmental commitment
- Frequent visits to supplier workplaces to promote proper labor standards
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather affecting supply chain and showroom operations
Transition Risks
- Increase in energy consumption due to rising global temperatures
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
Awards & Recognition
- 2022 Best Lifestyle Furniture Brand (iMoney)
- 2022 No. 1 The Best Furniture Brand (Headline Daily)
- Asia Big Idea Chair Awards 2022 – The Best Native Ad Campaign (Yahoo)
- Quality Service Retailer of the Year (Furniture & Home Accessories Category) (Hong Kong Retail Management Association)
- Seasonal Quality Service Leader (Furniture & Home Accessories Category) (Hong Kong Retail Management Association)
- Certificate of Outlet Anti-epidemic Measures Recognition (Hong Kong Retail Management Association)
- Hong Kong Top Brand Mark (Ulfenbo)
Reporting Period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:232,709 kgCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:N/A
Scope 2 Emissions:225,211 kgCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:7,498 kgCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:1,624 GJ/year
Water Consumption:372 m3/year
Waste Generated:7,097 kg/year (general refuse to landfills); 687 kg/year (recycled waste)
Carbon Intensity:14.4 kgCO2e/m2
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Protection
- Workplace Quality
- Operating Practice
- Community Involvement
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced energy consumption through various measures in Hong Kong office and showrooms (LED lighting, energy-saving appliances, optimized air conditioning).
- Implemented waste reduction and recycling programs.
- Launched promotion campaigns and warehouse sales to minimize wastage of aging stock.
Social Achievements
- Implemented talent management strategies (competitive compensation, career development, employee engagement initiatives).
- Promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workforce.
- Maintained a low staff turnover rate among managerial positions.
- Organized various employee wellbeing initiatives (seminars, workshops, activities).
Governance Achievements
- Established robust compliance frameworks and internal controls.
- Implemented corporate governance practices (board structure, decision-making processes, transparent financial reporting).
- Developed and implemented ethical business practices (anti-corruption measures, fair competition).
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce energy consumption by 5% based on per-unit consumption by FY2026/27 or before, with FY2021/22 as the baseline.
Environmental Challenges
- Consumption of resources (wood, metal, raw materials, energy consumption, GHG emissions).
- Waste generation (packaging, damaged/returned products).
- Chemical usage (formaldehyde, flame retardants, VOCs).
- Transportation and logistics (air/noise pollution, GHG emissions).
- Energy efficiency (lighting, heating, cooling).
- Employment (attracting, recruiting, retaining key personnel).
- Workforce diversity and inclusion.
- Product safety and accessibility.
- Responsible marketing and advertising.
- Ethical sourcing and supply chain.
- Regulatory compliance.
- Corporate governance.
- Ethical business practices.
- Data privacy and security.
- Risk management and internal controls.
Mitigation Strategies
- Offering quality, sustainable furniture; educating customers on maintenance.
- Using recycled/sustainable materials; implementing waste reduction and recycling programs.
- Sourcing furniture without excessive hazardous chemicals; promoting eco-friendly materials.
- Optimizing transportation routes and modes.
- Implementing energy-efficient practices and technologies.
- Implementing talent management strategies.
- Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Offering furniture products with customer safety in mind; considering accessibility.
- Developing responsible marketing and advertising practices.
- Implementing ethical sourcing and supply chain management practices.
- Closely monitoring compliance with laws and regulations.
- Implementing robust corporate governance practices.
- Fostering a culture of ethical business conduct; implementing anti-corruption measures.
- Implementing data privacy and security measures.
- Implementing risk management and internal control systems.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Criteria for new suppliers (quality, price, delivery timeliness, supplier’s capability and experience, environmental commitment); requesting certifications if necessary; site visits to promote proper labor standards.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather conditions interrupting power supplies; increased energy consumption due to global warming.
Transition Risks
- Stringent environmental policies; increasing customer expectations for environmentally friendly products.
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HKEX ESG Reporting Guide
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- No. 1 The Best Furniture Brand 2023
- No. 1 The Best Mattress Brand 2023
- Excellence Awards 2023 – Excellent Lifestyle Furniture Brand
- Excellent ESG Recognition Scheme 2002-2023 – Excellent ESG Enterprise 2022-2023
- iMoney Enterprise Brand Awards 2023 – Prestigious Lifestyle Furniture Brand
- Quality Service Programme – Seasonal Quality Service Leader (Furniture & Home Accessories Category), April to June 2023
- Hong Kong Top Brand Mark