Sustainability

Sustainability has grown to become a key part of our business strategy. Our sustainability approach covers environmental, social, climate, diversity & inclusion and economic factors. These influence the work we produce, how we work, our office and our team.

Our business sustainability goals are aligned to those set out by the UN. We still have a lot of work to do to improve our sustainability and we know we’ll never be finished. But here’s what we have actioned so far.

Our work

Sustainable web development

It’s important to us that we are mindful of the carbon impact of the websites we produce. We do this by making carbon-reductive decisions during our project processes and advising our clients on any potentially carbon-intensive requests they may make.

Selective clients

We are selective with the types of organisations that we choose to work with. We don’t undertake work relating to industries involved with extractive energy, gambling, arms, tobacco or animal testing.

Banking

We bank with Starling, who we consider to be one of the most ethical banks available in the UK. This helps us ensure our business assets are not inadvertently being invested in industries which are at odds to our sustainability goals.

Our team

Offsetting our team’s lifestyles

Through our Ecologi programme (see more on this below), we offset our team’s average carbon emissions outside of their work at 10 Degrees. We understand that offsetting is not the complete solution to climate change and we therefore encourage our team to minimise their carbon footprint.

Flexible working

Our hybrid working environment allows us to reduce transportation emissions from commuting and reduce electricity/gas use when our office is not in use. Flexible working helps our team maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Recruitment

We are proud to promote a positive, diverse and inclusive recruitment process. The sustainability of our team is important because it follows through in to our work.

Electric car scheme

We provide a salary-sacrifice electric car scheme to encourage our team to switch to a more sustainable future for transport.

Cycle to work scheme

For our team who live locally, we offer a cycle-to-work scheme which promotes zero carbon transport and a healthier lifestyle.

Our office

Renewables powered office

Our office in Wokingham has been powered by renewable electricity and green gas since 2018 through Octopus Energy.

Backmarket equipment

Where possible we purchase second-hand equipment (e.g. laptops, phones and other IT equipment) through Backmarket.

Zero landfill waste

As a business we don’t send any waste to landfill. What can’t be reused or recycled is used to produce biofuel.

Ecover cleaning products

The cleaning products in our office use environmentally-friendly chemicals to help reduce the impact on our waterways.

Sustainability initiatives

Ecologi

Ecologi provides us with multiple climate solutions. From net-zero to large impact purchases, Ecologi are our trusted partner in protecting our world. Through our partnership we have helped plant over 2,000 trees and reduced our CO2e impact by 155t since 2020.

FuturePlus

FuturePlus is a platform that holistically benchmarks our sustainability through five key themes of economic, social, environment, climate and diversity & inclusion. Through their certification process we have been awarded the FuturePlus ‘Positively Sustainable’ accreditation.

Long-term sustainability goals

As part of our sustainability improvement programme, we have a number of key goals which we are aiming to achieve:

Install an electric vehicle charger at our office, for team and client use.

Create or support activities focused on gender diversity in our industry. Something the tech industry has a long way to improve.

Support local charities who are aligned to improving our local community in ways that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (such as poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality and climate action).

Complete our FuturePlus ambitions, as detailed below.

Embark on the journey to become a B Corp certified business.

Our ultimate goal is to build our own net zero building, but finding the land to do so is the trickiest part.

Other sustainability targets

The following targets are based on our FuturePlus ambitions which we expect to complete within a timeframe from now to 2025.

Climate

To monitor, record, and report our energy use and scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions.
To implement a climate change mitigation and adaptation policy and programme.
When selecting suppliers, calculate the emissions related to the manufacturing and transport of the goods, and make procurement decisions based on an understanding of their carbon footprint.
To analyse, identify, and try to reduce the sustainability risks inherent in our supply chain.
To set significant targets to reduce its energy consumption and carbon emission intensity.

Social

To invest in making a positive change to the communities in which we operate.
To require our suppliers to report on potential conflicts of interest.
To engage with the communities in which we operate to mitigate and manage social risk.
To have an employee code of conduct which includes prohibiting sexual exploitation in all forms.
To ensure the majority of food produced or procured is certified by internationally recognised ethical standards.

Economic

To screen and monitor our key suppliers for compliance with labour rights and standards as per ILO policies and guidelines.
To publish a modern slavery statement.
To provide guidance and clear policies on anti-corruption and bribery for all employees.
To promote effective, accountable, and transparent governance through regular and minuted board meetings.
To publish a complete and transparent annual report with an audited set of accounts.
To set up an Advisory Board that includes stakeholder representation.
To have an anti-corruption and reporting system in place, including an anonymous whistle-blowing policy.
To have a formal human rights policy that is made available to all stakeholders.
To ensure ethical buying standards throughout our supply chain.
To provide work related insurance policies for all of our employees, including travel, accident, death in service, and disability insurance.

Environment

To report to all our stakeholders on our social and environmental performance.
To create a programme or partnership which encourages our workforce to take individual action to reduce and mitigate their negative environmental footprint.
To measure and manage any food waste we generate.
To measure and manage our water usage.
To have a supplier code of conduct that covers positive environmental practices.
To prioritise suppliers who have third party accredited standards relating to sustainability.
To screen our key suppliers for their positive environmental practices or negative environmental impact.
To measure, review, and reduce the impact of transporting our goods and products across our supply chain.
To become a signatory of the UN Global Compact.

Diversity and inclusion

To produce a comprehensive succession plan that considers diversity and inclusion in our employee development and mentoring programmes.
To have clear and effective policies to prevent and penalise discrimination, harassment, and bullying within our supply chain.
To ensure, promote, and support diversity and inclusion within our supply chain.

Our company values represent the heart of our business and define our culture. They help STEER us to make the best decisions for our clients, for our team and our community.

Skilful

Providing a quality service is paramount to us. We use the best skills from across our team to meet your needs. We adhere to best-practice standards across our whole team, ensuring all our work is well documented, well organised and methodically produced by a team who take pride in the quality of their work.

Transparent

Honest and open communication is what you can expect from us. We’re a business with a commercial conscience, we price fairly and honestly (no cowboy overinflating of prices or bartering here). We’re focussed on building long term relationships for mutual benefit.

Empathetic

Understanding you and your objectives is critical to the success of our relationship. Building tools for maximum inclusivity and adhering to recognised accessibility standards is at the heart of everything we do.

Ethical

We take a strong stance on the sectors we’re willing to work with and we won’t take on work that we can’t fulfil or don’t have the skills to deliver. We are mindful of the environmental impact we’re having on the world, both as a business and for the carbon impact of the products we develop.

Reliable

Very simply, we do what we say we will, when we say we will. We deliver on time and to budget. We have a collaborative approach to everything we do and do not consider ourselves simply as ‘suppliers’.