Supporting our customers on their journey to more sustainable stores
We believe in sustainability through quality. Our products are designed to be both useful and impactful – not only more sustainable in how they are manufactured but also built to last. As plastic is our main working material, we recognise the obligation as well as the opportunity to reduce our own footprint while helping our customers do the same.The Science Based Targets initiative
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we’ve joined the Science Based Targets initiative, with approved targets guiding our progress each year.
The Science Based Targets initiative independently assesses if corporate reduction targets are in-line with what is required to keep the rise of global warming below 1.5°C, based on the latest climate science according to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
It takes two, baby – it takes me and you!
While reducing greenhouse emissions of our own operations is a priority for us, helping our customers reduce their environmental footprint is the other puzzle piece to a more sustainable retail industry.
From reducing virgin plastic to cutting food waste, we’re here to support you every step of the way. You don’t have to do it alone, and we can’t transform the retail industry without partnering with you.
We can help you:
Reduce the use of virgin plastic
Our HL Sustainable Choice range offers solutions made from more sustainable materials, such as recycled plastic. We’ve also closed the loop on plastic, collecting old datastrips and dividers from stores and recycling them into new products – minimising waste and reducing reliance on virgin materials.
Reduce packaging waste
With our packaging-free merchandising solutions, you can create the perfect display for unpackaged goods in your store. Backed by over 20 years of expertise in this area, our team provides insights, tips, and design guidance to help you make the most of it. We also offer a range of solutions for the loose merchandising of fresh produce.
Reduce food waste
A significant portion of food waste in stores comes from the fresh produce department. Our Sigma™ merchandising solution for chillers helps create abundant fresh produce displays with less inventory lost to shrink – supporting both sustainability and profitability.
Sustainable Choice and Circular Offer
Our greatest asset in sustainability is our ability to retrieve, recycle, and produce solutions that support a more circular economy.
Our Sustainable Choice range, launched in 2018, offers merchandising solutions made from recycled or renewable materials – giving you an easy way to reduce your environmental impact without compromising on quality or design.
With our Circular Offer, we take things a step further by retrieving old datastrips and dividers from stores, recycling them, and turning them into new products. This means less waste, fewer virgin materials, and a smarter, more sustainable approach to store merchandising.
Our accreditations
Talk is cheap – we prefer action. With certifications like ISO 9001 and EcoVadis ratings, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and continually raise the bar. Through certified management systems and policies for quality, work and conduct, we can make sure we provide the highest safety standards in production and minimise waste generation.
ISO
Our continuous improvement of operations and environmental and quality management in our factories are guided by internationally recognised standards.
All our five factories prior to acquisitions in 2023 are ISO 9001 and 45001 certified. All except Harlow are ISO 14001 certified. All Regional Distribution Centres are ISO certified according to all three standards. The newly acquired factories are not certified. HL is fully compliant with REACH, the EU’s chemical legislation, and we require suppliers to sign a written undertaking regarding REACH.
ECOVADIS
As part of our commitment to society, our people and the environment, HL completes a thorough assessment of our business sustainability practices every year through EcoVadis, the global standard for business sustainability ratings.
Learn more about how we take Corporate Social Responsibility
ESG – easy as 1,2,3? Corporate responsibility consists of more than environmental responsibility. It’s about building something that lasts, with care, fairness and integrity.
We focus on four key areas that reflect our values and ambitions:
- Helping customers create more sustainable stores
- Creating the best workplace
- Driving continuous improvement in operations
- Ensuring responsibility throughout the supply chain
We invite you to read more about how we make efforts to make a difference.
Full report
Corporate Responsibility Report 2023
Corporate responsibility at HL
Read more about our work