Sustainability

Climate change presents an existential threat to organisations in all sectors and geographies. Businesses must respond to these risks and opportunities by ensuring that proactive strategic planning is embedded into decision-making processes. We take this seriously and are committed to mitigating the impact of our operations on the climate.

We began mapping our carbon footprint in 2022 across scopes 1 and 2. In future, we plan to continue improving data completeness by working with sites to enhance the measurement and reporting of emissions to ensure no gaps. We also have a target in place to start collecting data relating to our scope 3 emissions. We understand the importance of considering the impact of both our direct and indirect emissions.

Reducing our emissions is a pressing priority. Emissions data collection will allow us to better understand our emissions footprint and put in place measurable targets around energy efficiency. We have also set targets to identify and reduce the climate risks associated with our supply chain and to put in place a climate change mitigation and adaptation programme.

Responsible waste management is central to our environmental commitments. We already work hard to minimise waste generation, promote recycling practices and reduce the environmental impact of our waste disposal. We know there is more to be done and are continually evaluating our processes to identify and eliminate waste throughout our operations and supply chain.

Packaging has also been a crucial element of our environmental focus to date. Packaging for our Blade, Reference and LS60 Wireless products has been redesigned to encompass a reduced footprint, making it less emissions-intensive to ship, and polyfoam packaging for KC62 has been replaced with certified paper pulp. Our UK packaging supplier uses third-party certifications to ensure responsible sourcing of cardboard materials used for KEF packaging. We continue to explore ways of reducing and removing plastics and polyfoam from our packaging materials, including the use of HRC foam for our Blade and Reference products, which contains 65% recycled content.

Innovation is at the core of what we do. We have always leveraged technology at every turn to ensure our position at the cutting edge of audio. Recognising that true innovation requires a sustainable approach, we're now focusing on prioritising more environmentally conscious practices. This commitment extends beyond using less energy to focus on aspects such as material selection and responsible end-of-life practices.

Durability is a cornerstone of this strategy. By designing high-quality products that are built to last, we reduce the need for frequent replacements and the associated environmental impact. Additionally, we are actively seeking ways to incorporate more sustainable materials into our products by reviewing the sustainability of materials used against key indicators for social and environmental impacts.

By giving products a second life through refurbishment, we can reduce waste and protect our planet. Our Certified Refurbished Programme guarantees KEF quality audio, with each refurbished product undergoing a rigorous certification process to ensure it meets performance and quality standards.

This programme offers a variety of benefits, giving our customers access to high-quality products that are functionally and cosmetically equivalent to new products but are more accessible at a lower price point. Refurbishing also expands the lifespan of the product, keeping it out of landfills, and uses less materials and energy than manufacturing from scratch, reducing environmental impact.

We strive to cultivate a supportive environment where all employees feel valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. Our dedication to social responsibility within our business is reflected through our inclusive employment policies and employee code of conduct.

Over the past three years, we have participated in a Work Shadowing initiative created by the Women’s Engineering Society, which seeks to pair female mentees - female students and women with no previous engineering work experience - with available companies who are able to host. This has allowed us to promote engineering to women and female students interested in engineering by providing the opportunity to shadow real-life engineering activities, increase their understanding of the different engineering disciplines, increase their networks and see what a real working environment looks like.

Our commitment to upholding high standards of human rights and ethical labour practices extends to our supply chain, ensuring that the products and services we procure are produced under fair conditions.

In 2025, our focus will be on putting in place a supplier code of conduct which will act as a comprehensive set of standards addressing labour and human rights, environmental responsibility and ethical business practices. We also aim to audit our key suppliers to assess our supply chain for sustainability considerations that are crucial for manufacturing businesses such as KEF, in order to align with evolving consumer demands, mitigate environmental risks, enhance operational efficiency and build a sustainable future.

Our commitment to customer well-being extends beyond the functionality of our products. We prioritise ensuring the health and safety of consumers throughout the product life cycle. This focus is complemented by a rigorous approach to data privacy and protection. We understand the importance of safeguarding customer information and take all necessary steps to secure it.

KEF is a global brand serving a diverse community of sound makers and aficionados from every segment and every corner of the planet. Our communications must engage with and be relatable to all of our audiences. We take great pride in producing communications that reflect the rainbow of nationalities and individuals that the brand so enjoys sharing the magic of great sound with.

Created and curated by KEF, Sound of Life fosters a community of curious connoisseurs through the lens of sound. Our guide on what to watch, read and listen to in our world of sound was built with the aim of supporting sound makers and creators and shining a spotlight on pioneering thinkers who forge new paths in their respective fields.

In addition, our global Experience Locations offer spaces for our community of creators, makers and artists to collaborate on immersive, high-fidelity experiences together in one space. Other initiatives include collaborations with various artists to design t-shirts with proceeds going to Music Will and the London to Brighton bike ride to raise money for Together for Cinema.

Our Board of Directors is involved in setting and overseeing the company’s sustainability commitments and goals. KEF’s leadership team is responsible for these commitments and integrating sustainability into daily operations.

We understand the importance of accountability and transparency in our sustainability journey. We are committed to monitoring and reporting our progress, openly sharing both our successes and the areas where we continue to improve. This allows our stakeholders to hold us accountable and become partners in building a more sustainable future.

Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and progress are prepared in accordance with the FuturePlus framework, a comprehensive ESG and sustainability measurement and management platform that ensures companies are benchmarked against industry best practices, regulatory requirements and taxonomies.

FuturePlus assess our business and ESG goals against the recognised sustainability and ESG reporting standards in the territories in which we operate. FuturePlus also allows us to report our progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

We acknowledge that we are at the beginning of our sustainability journey and that the challenges we all face are significant. We firmly believe that together, we can build a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.