ESG strategy development for Genuine Solutions

Strategic support for Genuine Solutions and Relove Technology in meeting its ESG and CSR commitments and reporting needs

Electronic waste (also known as e-waste) is a hugely problematic waste stream in the UK, with over 1.6 million tonnes being generated each year. In this context, Genuine Solutions and Relove Technology’s work is crucial: they’ve recovered and distributed over 88 million mobile devices and accessories to date, ensuring 9,000 tonnes of unwanted electrical waste hasn’t ended up in landfill.

Resource Futures has worked closely with Genuine Solutions on a number of projects over the past few years, supporting its transition to becoming a leading environmentally sustainable organisation.

This began with support for its journey to becoming a B Corp (achieved in 2022); this was built upon an immersion day and workshops with staff that helped develop the foundations for their first ESG impacts and ambitions strategy and model for carbon reporting in 2021.

Since then, Resource Futures has continued to support the business in refining and structuring its ambitions and targets, as well as the creation of its circularity reporting on the recovery, recycling and distribution of mobile devices and accessories.

Developing an updated ESG strategy and Impact Report

Building on successive years of modelling carbon impacts, it was time for Genuine Solutions and Relove Technology to apply for B Corp recertification in 2024. They wanted to use this opportunity to revisit and re-envision the initial strategy and invited Resource Futures to support the develop of a new five-year ESG strategy (encompassing environmental, social and governance principles and commitments).

Tied into this project was the delivery of its first Impact Report since B Corp recertification, which reports progress and ambition against this new ESG strategy.

What value does CSR and ESG bring to organisations?

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments and reporting are essential expectations on businesses in a modern world. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are different whilst being supportive of each other.

As an example of how these concepts dovetail, Genuine Solution and Relove Technology’s new strategy and Impact Report combines the CSR internal sustainability framework (detailing plans and actions balancing environmental, social and economic factors), with ESG external commitments around measuring and reporting outcomes in terms of overall sustainability performance.

Delivering an ESG strategy overhaul

The first stage of the process was to contextualise the business’ ambitions through a comparator review of ESG ambitions and actions among peer organisations and the wider mobile sector. This was paired with an initial materiality assessment, which identified key environmental, social and governance priorities, as well as issues within the business. Together, these framed priority commitments and actions to be taken.

Following on from this, Resource Futures ran a series of structured workshops with executive teams. These started with a review of the company’s mission, vision and values before moving on to identifying strategic sustainability pillars and commitments. Once this was complete, ideation sessions were held to develop targets and action plans that would deliver each commitment.

These sessions encouraged open discussion and sharing of ideas among the organisation’s leadership on potential change, as well as canvassing views on priorities and timescales to inform the new ESG strategy.

With the new ESG strategy identified and approved, Resource Futures’ experts developed the content for the five-year ESG strategy, as well as a post-recertification Impact Report built upon the framework of this strategy.

Charting a pathway to sustainability success

With its five-year strategy in place, the company has a clear roadmap of action to follow around its CSR targets and ESG commitments and accurately report on progress, putting the organisation into a position to remain a visible leader in its field in terms of sustainability and regenerative action.

This long-term, overarching plan with be crucial in ensuring Genuine Solutions and Relove Technology remains true to its mission and vision, allowing it to improve its sustainability as an organisation while fulfilling its objective to make the electronics industry increasingly circular through the recovery, repair and distribution of smart devices and mobile accessories.

“We’re really happy with the way Resource Futures has worked with us. The approach to the workshops and engagement has been excellent with the outputs reflecting our ambitions. Overall the research was really well run, with it being on time and delivering the most salient points for us to focus on”.

Paul Crossman, Chief Executive Officer Genuine Solutions

This project is included in our 2024-25 Impact Report.
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