Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025
Written by James Beiny, ESG Manager
Entering 2025, the importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices has never been clearer. ESG is no longer a passing trend but a critical framework for addressing the urgent challenges of our time, from climate change to rising social inequality to increasing cyber threats. In the coming year, there is a strong opportunity for businesses to strengthen environmental stewardship, enhance social impact and drive strong governance practices. At Ward, we are committed to leading by example, and 2024 has marked significant progress on our ESG journey.
Reflecting on last year, Ward has made meaningful strides in its ESG journey, setting the stage for continued progress in 2025 and beyond. Here are some of our most notable achievements in 2024:
- ESG Report 2023. In July 2024, Ward published its inaugural ESG Report. This document represents a critical milestone in Ward’s ESG journey, detailing the progress the company made in 2023 against ESG-related targets and key achievements. It also outlines the main challenges Ward faced in meeting its ESG-related targets and plans to address them moving forwards. The report is a transparent account of our ESG efforts, setting the direction for the road ahead.
- Double Materiality Assessment. A double materiality assessment (DMA) is a fundamental element of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which is designed to help businesses identify their material ESG topics. While Ward does not need to comply with the CSRD, we decided to undertake one because it: 1) represents global best-practice for businesses to identify their material ESG topics, and 2) supports our ambition to take a leadership role in driving sustainability across the security industry. Equipped with the results of the DMA, we can shape our future approach to ESG to ensure it effectively meets the needs and expectations of our key stakeholders.
- Supplier Charter. Ward introduced a Supplier Charter in 2024, which outlines the expectations and requirements the business has of suppliers across four pillars: human rights, business ethics, health and safety, and environmental action. This Charter will play a pivotal role in helping us to create a more sustainable and responsible supply chain.
- EcoVadis Certification. In April 2024, Ward received the ‘Committed’ Badge from EcoVadis. EcoVadis is one of the leading global sustainability ratings providers, and this certification reflects our ongoing dedication to enhancing our ESG practices. By continuing to embed sustainable practices in every aspect of our business, we will improve our EcoVadis rating to benefit the company and its wider stakeholders.
- ESG Training Programme. We rolled out seven ESG toolbox talks in August 2024 on a range of different topics, such as climate change, social value, biodiversity and the circular economy. In 2025, we intend to expand our ESG training programme, ensuring our people have the means to support Ward in meeting its ESG objectives.
As we enter 2025, Ward remains committed to advancing its ESG agenda. We will continue to build on our 2024 achievements, focusing on reducing our environmental footprint, expanding our social initiatives, and refining our governance practices to ensure greater transparency and accountability. By working together, we will play our part in creating a fairer society that works in harmony with nature.
