K2’s 2023 Sustainability Report sets out the actions we are taking, as well as the standards against which our performance can be judged.
We understand that continuity of efforts is key – a ‘one and done’ approach won’t suffice. ESG reporting is a never-ending story, one which needs to be effectively and transparently documented.
As part of our ongoing participation in the United Nations Global Compact, we have committed to integrating the 10 corporate responsibility principles into our business operations and aligning our strategies with them. The 10 principles cover the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.
We have also committed to progress in all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but with a particular focus on the following five goals: Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life on Land, and Partnership for the Goals. Following is an overview of some of the steps we have taken, as well as ongoing actions and initiatives, and how they align to the SDGs:
(5) Gender Equality
- Rolled out our new DE&I programme – True Q.
- Continue to support female employees to progress into leadership roles.
- Became a certified Great Place to Work for Women (UK).
- Reviewed our company policies to ensure inclusive language used throughout.
(8) Decent Work & Economic Growth
- Became a certified Great Place to Work® globally.
Supporting supply chain partners through the EcoVadis ratings process to remove the risk of infringements of the labour, human rights, environment, ethics, and sustainable procurement principles. - Supporting the provision of education and training for children and young people through the K2 Foundation.
- Providing our employees with the ‘KINETIC Benefit’ – K2’s profit share scheme.
- Conducted a global pay review to ensure that we are meeting the National Living Wage.
- Reviewed our company policies to ensure inclusive language used throughout.
- Ensuring 100% of employees have a contract of employment.
(12) Responsible Consumption and Production
- Launched a programme of plastic reduction in the supply chain.
- Commenced a materiality study in collaboration with University of Bath.
- Ongoing measurement of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, in line with our commitment to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions and scope 3 emissions, as per our Science Based Targets submission.
- Ongoing measurement of our waste and recycling, and reporting those measurements.
- Sustainability addendum made to Senior Leadership contracts.
- Reviewed our mindful travel policy.
(15) Life on Land
- Rolled out global volunteering initiatives focused on improving environmental aspects of the local communities where K2 operates, such as beach clean ups and community litter picks.
- Supported, through One Tree Planted, the planting of 2400 trees in 2023. K2’s trees are planted in the Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest rainforest ecosystem, contributing to 36 hectares of reforestation.
(17) Partnership for the Goals
- Ongoing global partnership with EcoVadis. Ongoing partnership with the University of Bath.
- Ongoing global partnership with K2’s supply chain. Ongoing global partnership with clients.
- Ongoing partnership with local community projects such as the Guildford Sustainable Business Network.
- Developed code of conduct for employees and supply chain that covers labour, human rights, ethics and the environment.
We continue to make regular reviews of these priority goals to ensure that we are prioritising areas in where K2 can have the most meaningful impact. A key requirement for participation in the UNGC is the annual submission of a Communication on Progress (COP) that describes K2’s efforts to implement the Ten Principles. K2 submitted its first COP in November 2023.
Additionally:
- We engaged with the UNGC programme of learning by participating in a number of educational webinars throughout 2023.
- In September 2023, K2 joined other organisations participating in the SDG Flag Day, a global campaign to spread awareness of the SDGs.
- Presented at the UNGC Climate Ambition Accelerator Alumni Meeting on our steps towards making our SBTi commitment.
