Last month, we wrote about how Woolcool® has been progressing with our aim of embracing the United Nations’ blueprint for peace and prosperity for now and the future. As a company founded on principles of sustainability and responsibility, Woolcool® is committed to meeting as many of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – or SDGs – as we can. Some won’t be as relevant for us right now, although this may change as we evolve as a company, so we continue to review.
This month, we thought we’d let you in on our plans going forward to further embrace the SDGs, which include all kinds of ambitions from ending poverty to building partnerships for the future. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we know we can always improve, but by making the aims of the SDGs part of everyday decision making at Woolcool, we aim to make real progress.
Let’s start with our own wellbeing. The good health and wellbeing of our staff is of paramount importance to us, as is fostering a positive and inclusive working environment. We intend to carry on holding regular Wellbeing Weeks for our team, including organising expert speakers to come into our premises, to help give our team the tools they might need and be mindful of their own wellness, and even education pieces around managing finances. We’ll also continue to link up with mental health initiatives and encourage conversations and consideration on the issue of wellbeing.
Everyone at Woolcool® has completed diversity and equality training, and everyone has mental health training and support available to them. We also want to provide physical health support where possible – such as physiotherapy and support on dentist visits.
Another of the UN’s goals centres upon Gender Equality. As a female-led business, we already see the benefits of this goal and believe strongly in and practise workplace diversity, with 60 full-time employees with a wide range of characteristics and experiences, and LGBTQ+ representation on our board, which is also 50% male and 50% female. Our commitment is to continue to implement training on equality issues, encourage inclusion in the workplace at all levels, and to focus on diversity in management meetings.
We believe business has a vital role to play if the globe is to benefit from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. After all, our company was founded on sustainable ideals. We know there is always more we can do, but Woolcool® is determined to play its part in creating a more sustainable world.
When looking to the future, the UN’s goals on work, economic opportunities and education are crucial.
While we are proud of the strides we have made in this area, we are committed to continuing to invest in developing our team. All members of our team have the opportunity for at least one external training session per year. Within the community, we will be partnering with local schools and charities to provide work experience opportunities and mentorship for young people. We believe that a strong link between business and education is vital to build the aspirations of young people and are determined to play our part in raising their aspirations.
Many of the UN’s goals touch upon what Woolcool® does as a sustainable business that was built on green principles. Goals that aim to reflect the future of industry, innovation, infrastructure, consumption and sustainable cities all chime with our beliefs.
That’s why, looking forward, we will continue to ensure our products are the best they can be, constantly reviewing the materials we use, with an ambition to reduce our own carbon footprint within the next five years, even as we are forecasting growth. Renewable energy sources such as solar are also under consideration, and we are currently conducting a full review with Keele University to understand and educate ourselves on the actual reality and sustainability of the options on the market. Our circular economy scheme – which enables customers to return their packaging to us for reuse – is still proving a success. We are committed to find avenue to utilised the returned wool in different ways, where it may bring more value in its second or third stage of its life.
Most notably, we are working on solutions that could make some of our pharmaceutical packaging products reusable, which would provide a true breakthrough in a field where medical and scientific demands make achieving sustainability more challenging. We are also heavily investing in research into how the 100% wool we use could operate as a natural carbon sink or in other product to trap harmful emissions.
Finally, the Woolcool® family of team members, partners, suppliers and customers will continue to reach for the UN’s goals on partnership, sharing knowledge, ideas and best practice while working together to identify initiatives where our joint efforts can have an even greater benefit.
We believe business has a vital role to play if the globe is to benefit from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. After all, our company was founded on sustainable ideals. We know there is always more we can do, but Woolcool® is determined to play its part in creating a more sustainable world.
