Back to About Us

Sustainability

At Howdens, sustainability is central to our growing business to ensure we continue to be worthwhile for our staff, our customers, our suppliers, the environment, and the communities we serve. That is why sustainable behaviours are adopted right across the business, from our material sourcing to manufacturing, right through to depot waste management and our distribution fleet. Our vision is to become the UK's leading, sustainable kitchen and joinery supplier. In order to achieve this we have embarked on a Road to Zero. Road to Zero is our journey to create zero waste and zero emissions, whilst creating sustainable products that we are proud of.

Sustainable Products

We continually improve our products and packaging to lower their impact on the environment. Using innovative, recyclable, and recycled materials is key to controlling emissions, in addition to manufacturing our products in-house. We produce 40% of our products in the UK, and look to source other UK products where we can to control and reduce our carbon footprint.

100% of our kitchen cabinet doors are FSC® or PEFC certified.

90% of our externally sourced timber products are FSC® or PEFC certified

Our laminate worktops are made using chipboard with a recycled content of over 75%

UK Made Cabinets

With more than 4.5 million produced every year, cabinets are at the heart of what we do. They're made from more than 90% recyclable materials, like 100% recycled and recyclable plastic legs. The chipboard is from sustainably managed UK forests, where every acre used is replanted.

Zero Emissions

We work tirelessly to remove excess greenhouse gases, using alternative fuels, electric trucks, and renewable energy. Since 2022, we've used renewable energy at manufacturing sites, distribution centres, and depots. The SBTi has approved our near-term, science-based emissions reduction target, and we have committed to set long-term emissions reduction targets to reach net zero by 2050.

We have achieved Route to Net Zero standard certification from Carbon Trust for the whole business

96% of depots and all of our manufacturing sites are powered by renewable energy

We use lower-emission fuels, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, producing 90% less CO2 per litre than diesel trucks

Zero Waste

With more than 10,000 products in our collection, reducing waste is high on our agenda. Whether removing or replacing plastic or turning excess sawdust into fuel, we are re-engineering many products so they are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

100% of our manufacturing waste is reused, recycled, or recovered

All cardboard packaging we use in our manufacturing is sourced from recycled or certified sources

By using HIPPO bags, more than 99% of our depot waste avoids landfill

National Parks

National Parks cover 10% of Great Britain’s land area. They enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems, making the environment worthwhile for all. We rely heavily on natural materials for products and packaging, so we believe in protecting the environment and local communities where these materials come from.