When we published our first Sustainability Report in 2023, we knew the road ahead was long and arduous. Sustainability is not achieved overnight; it’s multi-faceted and requires investment and dedication throughout the organisation. We’re proud to say that alongside 2024 being an incredible commercial success, we have also made significant and impactful strides towards our sustainability goals. Our contributions are hard to measure internally; however, externally, we can keep track of our monthly sustainability impact through reporting with Switch2Zero.

Monthly Sustainability Impact Breakdown

Offset Project	Premium %
Gold Standard Project 5801 – Biogas Programme, Kenya	14%
UN Project 6693 – Nuevo Imperial Hydro power plant, Peru	19%
Gold Standard Project 2290 – Buenos Aires Renewable energy project, Brazil	7%
Gold Standard Project 6756 – 30 MW Wind Energy Project by Giriraj Enterprises	6%
Gold Standard Project 7002 – Solar Lighting Project in Zambia	24%
Gold Standard Project 10826 – Improved Cookstoves for conservation of Ibanda-Makera Gallery Forest in Rwanda	9%
Gold Standard Project 5673 – Renewable Energy Power Project by DDWL, India	6%
Gold Standard Project 7726 – 300 MW Solar PV Plant at Bhadla, Rajasthan	7%
Gold Standard Project 11212 – Guatemala Improved Cookstoves	9%

What is a Gold Standard Project?

A Gold Standard Project, often associated with the Gold Standard Foundation (GSF), is a sustainability initiative that meets rigorous environmental and social impact criteria set by the foundation. Established in 2003 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other NGOs, the Gold Standard certification aims to ensure that projects contribute positively to the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide social benefits to local communities.

Projects certified under the Gold Standard typically include renewable energy, waste management, and forestry projects, as well as efforts to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable development in various regions. The certification process involves strict assessments to ensure that projects align with global climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement, and that they contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

How does our monthly sustainability impact align with our UN SDG goals?

As our commitment to and execution of our sustainability strategy grows, we shift our focus towards a set number of SDGs. A more focused and detailed approach positions us to make a more significant contribution to both our local communities and our global responsibilities.

Goal 1 – No Poverty

We are committed to making a significant contribution to the reduction of poverty locally and globally. As we continue to grow exponentially, we create opportunities and jobs for our local communities. These opportunities come with wages above the minimum wage, with extra London weighting to combat the increased living costs. Children living in food-insecure households is one of the most significant issues we strive to address. Many of our valued colleagues have children; therefore, supporting them with healthy wages allows them to ensure that their children have a healthy upbringing with a well-balanced food supply.

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being

The goal is split into more detailed targets, and our focus is on Targets 3.8 and 3.9. Target 3.8 aims to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. We tackle these issues by providing Vitality Health insurance for all our staff. Vitality Health provides healthcare and life insurance and actively rewards our colleagues for making healthier lifestyle choices.

Target 3.9 aims to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030. Our expertly designed external wall insulation systems tackle this issue nationally. With close partnerships throughout the industry, we can supply our systems to ECO and other funded projects to significantly improve the thermal comfort and indoor air quality of homes throughout the UK. By improving thermal comfort and indoor air quality, our customers are less likely to suffer respiratory illnesses associated with mould growth. Insulated walls prevent condensation from accumulating, which often leads to mould growth.

Goal 5 – Gender Equality

We are extremely proud to be doing our part for equal representation in leadership in the workplace. The EWI Group has an extensive and diverse workforce, and the leadership team reflects that. With our diversity come our biggest strengths. We firmly believe that our exceptional commercial growth is down to the equality that forms the heart of our company ethos. EWI Pro’s management team comprises 42% women, and EWI Store’s management team comprises 50% women. Whilst the overall figures across the UK continually climb, only about 30% of managerial positions are filled by women. 

The construction industry is particularly unequal, positioning the EWI Group as a beacon of sustainable hiring practices, with equality at the forefront. Women currently make up 15% of the construction workforce, with 340,000 individuals employed by the sector. Crucially, only 16% of management positions are held by women, with a distinctly uneven distribution; the majority of women, 81%, are still concentrated in administration and design roles, while only 1% work in skilled trades. The gender pay gap also continues to be an issue industry-wide. (Source: Simian Risk). We proudly pay and hire women equally to their male counterparts.

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

Our partnerships with installers that work with ECO and other funding allow us to help the vulnerable in our society. Social housing and housing with EPCs below a C have significant funding allocated for the provision of external wall insulation to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. With improved energy efficiency and heat retention, there is a lower demand for energy on the grid and significantly lower energy bills. In addition, insulated homes also have lower operational and embodied carbon, owing to their design and our supplier processes. A lower carbon footprint is essential to building sustainable cities and communities.

Goal 13 – Climate Action

At the EWI Group, we have consciously examined our suppliers and made climate-conscious decisions. As such, we partner with SPI, Kingspan, and Rockwool to supply our insulation products. All three of our suppliers have a deep understanding and commitment to reducing carbon emissions; SPI does not use harmful blowing agents and has facilities to recycle 100% of their EPS. Rockwool’s main product, mineral wool, is made from abundant natural materials that are fully recyclable and fully sustainable. Implementing these products into our external wall insulation systems allows us to lower operational and embodied carbon throughout the process. Well-insulated homes have a lower demand for energy and gas for heating purposes, effectively reducing every home’s carbon footprint.