Environmental impact Medium
Employer/employee ranking 45/2
Staff numbers 100
Energy reduction n/a
Recycling n/a

Seven years ago, the eponymous founder of Warren Evans, the bed and furniture manufacturer, turned to IT manager Zoe Robinson and asked her to become the firm’s sustainable development manager. “My role is to keep us as green as we can possibly be,” Robinson says. “Throughout every level of the company, I make sure I give my five pence worth in regards to green or ethical issues, from what kind of cups we use to recycling. Actually, they usually get more than five pence worth.”

Employee survey results demonstrate that staff are confident that Warren Evans does a lot for the environment, with a 93% green score. They also believe the organisation does everything it can to minimise its environmental impact (93%) and that it always aims for the environmentally friendly solution rather than the cheapest (91%).

Staff feel that their boss, Warren Evans himself, is open to suggestions for green improvements (94%) and are clear that he encourages them to recycle (95%). Since starting out 28 years ago, he has given consideration to how the business, which employs 100 people and has an annual turnover of about £9m, affects the environment. His measures include reducing the amount of lacquer used per bed by 21%, and employees believe that the environment is an everyday consideration at work (95%).

Warren Evans is the only UK bed maker to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the sustainable forestry organisation, with 100% of its wood coming from responsibly managed forests. It is also encouraging its suppliers to become FSC certified. More than that, it does not pass any of these costs to the consumer, ensuring they get not only a greener product but also reduce their own carbon footprint.