ESG DIGEST NEWSLETTER - Q1 2026

At SMI, ESG is part of how we work with customers, suppliers, colleagues, and communities every day.

Throughout Q1 2026, we continued building positive environmental and social impact through collaboration, recycling initiatives, afforestation projects, carbon reporting, and community support.

This quarter also saw our ESG work recognised across multiple industry awards and accreditations.

ESG AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Over the last 12 months, our ESG work has continued to gain recognition across the industry.

AWARD WINS

Our work was recognised at several major industry events in 2025:

• CSR Awards 2025: Biodiversity Support Excellence Award 2025
• CSR Awards 2025: PPE & Workwear CSR Champions of the Year - UK
• The Big Sustainability Awards / Southern Sustainability Expo 2025: Sustainability Management Award

FINALIST PLACEMENTS

SMI and Elizabeth Mellor, our Head of ESG and Sustainable Procurement, were also shortlisted for national sustainability awards:

• Inspiring Change Awards 2026: SME of the year 
• National Sustainability Awards 2025: Company of the year 
• Edie Awards 2026: Supply Chain Sustainability Project of the year 
• National Sustainability Awards 2025: Supply Chain Decarbonisation 
• UK Green Business Awards 2025: Supply Chain Project of the Year - RSPS 
• Edie Net Zero Awards 2025: Supply Chain Decarbonisation Project - RSPS 
• UK Green Business Awards 2025: Rising Star of the Year - Elizabeth Mellor 
• National Sustainability Awards 2025: ESG Rising Star of the Year - Elizabeth Mellor 
• Edie Awards 2026: Consumer Engagement & Behaviour Change Initiative of the Year 

ESG AT SMI - Q1 PROGRESS SNAPSHOT

Our ESG activity continued to develop throughout Q1.

ESG ACTIVITY	2025 Q1	2026 Q1
Trees planted	3,632	4,179
Volunteer hours	38	57
Money raised (£)	122	514
Eco products sold	31,846	49,099
Recycling boxes sold	569	427
Plastic bottles repurposed	964,500	668,236
Home's carbon footprint offset	382	439
Recycling content collected (kg)	4,612	12,076
Green job opportunity hours created	308	354
Kg of plastic polybags for ROKWEAR® gloves	6,669	6,570
Total tCO2e saved, removed, or avoided	886.61	6,570

CARBON REPORTING PROGRESS

Our 2024 and 2025 carbon data has now been completed and is undergoing third-party verification by ClimatePartner ahead of publication later this year.

The data we capture is primarily based on high-quality primary data. This helps improve the accuracy and reliability of our reporting.

We have also expanded carbon data capture to include our ROKWEAR® eco range, strengthening the completeness of our reporting.

As our business grows, including through recent acquisitions, we are developing a strategy to support our expanding carbon reporting requirements.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Throughout Q1, we continued supporting customers through practical ESG initiatives and collaborative projects.

Projects included:

• Providing mileage tracking data for DP World
• Implementing recycling bin schemes across customer sites 
• Refreshing community playgrounds alongside Hyde Housing 
• Partnering with R Collard to deliver a community litter pick at a local housing estate
• Shared a transparent update on our own van fleet and future emission reduction plans 
• Issuing 122 ESG-related certificates to support customer environmental and sustainability reporting 
• Supporting Principle Cleaning with Scope 3 emissions data relating to products purchased from SMI

GROWING OUR AFFORESTATION PROJECTS

VERITREE

Our tree planting partner, Veritree, delivers transparent, science-backed restoration projects across the globe.

Their work includes woodland restoration, mangrove planting, post-wildfire recovery, and biodiversity monitoring across several countries.

Using drones, environmental sensors, and biodiversity tracking technology, Veritree measures long-term environmental impact and carbon sequestration with precision.

To ensure restored forests are healthy and resilient, they monitor biodiversity to help support a thriving, diverse environment.

Alongside environmental restoration, their projects also support local communities, smallholder farmers, and Indigenous groups.

Through this partnership, we continue supporting projects that create measurable environmental and social impact.

FORESTS WITH IMPACT

We are now a national partner of Forests With Impact (FWI), supporting a programme that delivers both environmental and social impact.

FWI are an award-winning UK social enterprise that establishes commercial tree nurseries on prison land. The programme creates skills, training, and employment opportunities for prisoners while supporting woodland creation projects across the UK.

After attending their event, it was inspiring to hear the passion behind the initiative and learn how quickly the project has developed in such a short space of time.

It quickly became clear that the programme delivers real value, not only through environmental impact, but also through the positive social outcomes created within the communities they support. We knew we wanted to be part of it. 

At last year’s event, we also heard from a prison leaver who had taken part in one of the schemes. It was a powerful example of the lasting impact the initiative can have. 

Through hands-on nursery experience gained while in prison, they developed practical employability skills and later achieved the role of apprentice Tree Nursery Manager with FWI.

Their work supports climate goals, biodiversity, and rehabilitation, helping create long-term positive outcomes for both people and the environment.

As national partners, we are contributing time, expertise, and practical support, including supplying uniforms for those working in the polytunnels.

Read more about our partnership here.

ECOLOGI

We have partnered with Ecologi since 2023 to support global climate action projects.

One example from 2025 is the Kandrany 2 project in Madagascar. We funded 5,552 mangrove trees, including Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Ceriops tagal, and Rhizophora mucronata. These species are highly effective at absorbing and storing carbon within their root systems.

DIVERT FROM EARTH

SUPPORTING THE FULL LIFE-CYCLE OF PPE AND WORKWEAR

When workwear and PPE are no longer fit for use, they must be disposed of responsibly.

By taking responsibility, we can give these products a second life through reuse, repurposing, or recycling.

Without proper destruction, branded garments can still be reused without authorisation.

Our recycling scheme is delivered in partnership with Avena, who recently acquired Race Recycling.

Together with participating customers, we help reduce waste, cut pollution, and keep valuable materials in use for longer through reuse, repurposing, and recycling.

HOW DOES THE RECYCLING SCHEME WORK?

Last year, we introduced a bin-based recycling service alongside our existing box scheme.

This option can be particularly beneficial for customers who:

• Prefer scheduled collections
• Regularly exceed five recycling boxes per collection
• Have boxes that are often overfilled or contain heavier items

Our bin service offers:

• ESG data
• Multiple bin size options
• Agreed collection timelines
• Better visibility of site logistics and locations

All garments are securely sorted and shredded to protect brand integrity before being recycled through Avena.

Customers using the box option will continue to order boxes and request collections once filled. No ESG data will be available; however, Certificates of Destruction can also be provided as proof of recycling.

SUPPORTING BETTER RECYCLING OUTCOMES

The Avena bin model offers greater payload capacity and improved cost efficiency compared with the current bins offered through our existing scheme.

Bins remain permanently on site, with only filled sacks exchanged during servicing. This helps reduce handling, transport, and administration requirements.

The scheme also allows estimated landfill emissions to be calculated using a gate-to-grave methodology.

We are currently launching our refreshed Divert from Earth scheme, powered by Avena, featuring both our bin and box recycling options. Further information will follow.

SOCIAL IMPACT: VOLUNTEERING AND FUNDRAISING

During Q1, our team continued supporting charities and local communities that matter to both our colleagues and customers.

Through volunteering and fundraising activities, 57 volunteering hours were contributed, and £514 was raised in support of Mind, our charity of the year for 2026.

Mind was chosen by our people and provides advice, education, and support for people experiencing mental health challenges. The charity also campaigns for improvements in mental health awareness and care across the UK.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Throughout the quarter, the team took part in several community projects across local areas.

This included:

• Supporting a community litter pick alongside R Collard
• Running mock interview sessions at a local Petersfield school
• Refreshing community playgrounds in partnership with Hyde Housing

FUNDRAISING

Teams also took part in multiple fundraising activities, including:

• A Spring bake-off across multiple sites
• Attending The Rosemary Foundation Ball in support of local hospice care
• Easter fundraising activities, including an office egg hunt, raffle, and guess the mini egg competition

We will continue supporting Mind throughout the year through fundraising, volunteering, and community activities.