Ending the Year on a Sustainable High at Codex
6 min
Over the past year, we’ve made great strides in reducing our corporate carbon footprint, from introducing electric vehicles to eliminating single-use plastics. But these actions are just the beginning. As we look ahead to 2025, Codex is focused on setting ambitious goals and leading by example, showing how innovation, accountability, and employee engagement can drive real change.
Our vision for the future is to embed environmental stewardship into every aspect of our operations. Sustainability for us isn’t just about cutting emissions or reducing waste; it’s about creating lasting value across our entire supply chain, from our internal operations to the partnerships we build with our customers. Every step we take, no matter how small, brings us closer to a larger transformation.
Here, we reflect on our progress in 2024, highlight key initiatives, and share our plans for the next phase of our sustainability journey. Through these efforts, Codex is positioning itself to not only face the challenges of tomorrow but also lead the way in sustainable business practices.
2024: A Year of Sustainable Achievements
This year has been a milestone year for Codex, reaffirming our dedication to sustainability and driving meaningful change. Here’s a snapshot of our key accomplishments:
- Electrifying Our Fleet: Three new electric vehicles (EVs) were introduced to our operations, reducing emissions and supporting Ireland's transition to a low-carbon economy.
- CSR Milestones: Our refreshed 2023 CSR report set out our past achievements and ambitious future goals, including eliminating single-use plastics from our product range.
- CloudForests Partnership: Through our partnership with CloudForests, we pledge to support their tree planting initiatives throughout 2025, making a tangible step toward carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration.
- Recognition & Awards: We were delighted to be recognised at the Planet Mark Awards for Employee Engagement, for Championing Sustainability at the Guaranteed Irish Awards and nominated for the Sustainability Team of the Year at the 2024 Green Awards.
Engaging Employees in Sustainability Activities
Sustainability begins at home, and Codex is proud to foster a culture of environmental responsibility among our employees:
Annual Codex Environment Week
Our 2024 Environment Week focused on biodiversity, featuring guest speakers Kathleen Lucey of CloudForests and Conor Leonard of WEEE Ireland. Highlights included a sunflower-growing contest, plant swaps, a quiz, and a scavenger hunt for our #ClubCodex kids.
Employees also voted for our carbon offset project, selecting a clean water initiative in Cambodia.
Keeping Employees In The Know
We include sustainability-focused content each quarter in our internal newsletter, aptly named "In The Know", to keep environmental responsibility front and centre for our team. The newsletter features updates on Codex’s sustainability initiatives, practical tips for reducing personal environmental impact, and success stories from across the company. This ongoing communication helps to reinforce sustainability as a core value at Codex, making it clear that it’s not just a company goal but a part of our everyday culture.
As a result, we saw strong engagement, with 94% of staff agreeing that "the culture of sustainability in Codex is changing for the better." This positive feedback reflects how our efforts to embed sustainability into our operations resonate with employees and contribute to a shift towards more environmentally conscious practices within the company.
Earth Day Action
Making a positive environmental impact starts locally at Codex. And so, we were delighted to participate in our first-ever PWL (Particularly Wasteful Litter) pickup event to mark Earth Day 2024. This initiative was a hands-on way for our team to engage with the local community while directly addressing the environmental issue of littering.
Initiatives like these help us continue to foster a culture of sustainability within our company and in the communities where we operate.
Codex's Sustainable Christmas Countdown
In December, we launched our "12 Days of a Sustainable Christmas" initiative to inspire Codex employees with practical tips for making the festive season more eco-friendly. From reducing waste and reusing gift wrap to choosing sustainable decorations, the campaign highlighted simple ways to celebrate the holidays while minimising environmental impact.
To complement this focus on sustainability, we also highlighted the importance of wellbeing during the often-hectic holiday season. We shared tips on managing stress, emphasised the calming benefits of spending time in nature, and introduced our new Mental Health First Aider, who will support the team year-round.
The initiative aimed to show how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference - not just for the environment but also for personal wellbeing. By integrating sustainability and mental health awareness, we encouraged employees to adopt mindful practices that benefit both themselves and the planet, even during one of the busiest times of the year.
Laying the Groundwork for 2025 and Beyond
As we look ahead to 2025, our commitment to sustainability remains at the forefront of our mission. Building on the momentum of this year’s achievements, we are expanding our efforts to measure and reduce our carbon footprint, while empowering customers to make better choices.
By aligning our operations with ambitious environmental goals and seeking continuous improvement, we’re laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future. Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Expanding Carbon Measurement
Since 2020, Planet Mark has measured Codex’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 and selected Scope 3 emissions. While this represents an essential starting point, we recognise that a full understanding of our carbon footprint must include our supply chain and products.
In 2025, we’ll commission Planet Mark to measure our complete Scope 3 emissions, enabling us to take meaningful steps toward reducing our entire footprint.
Empowering Customers
Codex is committed to helping customers make informed, sustainable choices. Here’s how we’re doing it:
- Green Leaves Initiative: Products will be assigned "green leaves" based on criteria like recycled material content, recyclability, and manufacturer credentials. Leveraging AI, this innovative approach ensures transparency and scalability.
- Reducing Excessive Packaging: Based on customer feedback gathered via our Qualtrics tool, we’re prioritising packaging improvements to help achieve our goal of becoming Zero-Waste by 2027.
- Operational Efficiency: By rolling out a minimum order value, we’re reducing packaging waste, deliveries, and invoicing - steps that directly contribute to sustainability.
Renewable Energy Investment
In 2024, we began a feasibility study for solar panel installation to offset our electricity consumption, which accounts for 55.7 tCO₂e. By 2025, we aim to finalise this project, further reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Continued Excellence
Sustainability is a journey, and Codex values external validation to ensure we’re on the right track:
- Planet Mark Certification: In the calendar year 2023, we achieved an 11.9% reduction in carbon footprint per turnover.
- ISO 14001 Audit: A positive external audit highlighted the strength of our environmental management systems.
- EcoVadis Recognition: Codex earned an EcoVadis Silver Medal, placing us in the top 15% of EcoVadis members globally.
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As we look toward 2025, Codex remains steadfast in its commitment to a greener future. With the support of the Green Earthlings - our enthusiastic sustainability champions - and groundbreaking initiatives like AI-driven green product assessments, we’re proving that businesses can lead the charge in environmental responsibility.
Our journey is not just about reducing our footprint; it’s about inspiring others to join us in creating a world where sustainability and success go hand in hand. Together, we’re building a brighter, greener future - one milestone at a time.
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