Corporate Responsibility Award – Major Domestic Appliances
Company: Bluestem Group
Entry Statement:
As a proud holder of the prestigious EcoVadis Silver Medal, Bluestem Group is placed in the top 15% of companies assessed for sustainability in our sector, making us a great candidate for IER’s Corporate Responsibility Award. As well as a commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, our sustainability and social value journey also includes efforts to enhance our local community and support our team’s wellbeing.
Our Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing Initiative involves working with manufacturing suppliers who undergo annual independent BSCI and SMETA audits to assess and improve working conditions, labour standards, and overall ethical practices in their operations. These audits help us maintain visibility over ethical practices and identify areas for improvement, with corrective actions tracked and followed up as part of ongoing supplier engagement.
2025 saw us implement our EcoVadis Supply Chain Programme, which used EcoVadis to assess the sustainability of all supplier partners. Through this programme, we aim to engage with 50% of our manufacturing suppliers (by spend) by the end of April 2026, aligning our sourcing practices with leading global standards and driving measurable impact across the supply chain.
Closer to home, we have begun transitioning our company fleet to plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric (EV) vehicles, with a target of switching all fleet vehicles to EV or PHEV by the end of 2027. Our operational site is powered by 90% nuclear and 10% renewable electricity, supporting a significantly lower-carbon energy mix compared to the UK grid average.
At Bluestem Group, we recognise that responsible waste management is a key part of reducing our environmental impact. We are committed to minimising waste across our operations, from product design and packaging through to warehousing and disposal. We hold over 3,500 spare parts on-site to enable customers to service and repair appliances, thereby reducing premature replacement and electrical waste.
As a registered EEE producer, we offer a B2B take-back scheme, assessing unwanted items and, where possible, repair and re-sell through our reuse partners, giving appliances a second life. Products that are beyond economical repair are passed to our approved waste management partners, Waste Experts, who work to maximise recycling rates and minimise landfill.
In 2024 we began phasing out all plastics from product packaging where possible, and we are moving from full-colour laminated cartons to brown, unlaminated cartons across many product categories. We have also adopted simplified on-pack artwork by removing excess imagery and graphics, to support recyclability and reduce ink usage.
We are passionate about fostering an inclusive workplace where every team member is valued, supported, and given opportunities to thrive, regardless of age, gender, beliefs, or background. Our Talent Pool Programme provides options for development and mobility across the business, plus we share a portion of our company profit with all our team members through an annual bonus scheme.
Bluestem Group’s Employee Assistance Programme offers 24/7 advice and support free of charge to our team members. In its first year, the programme achieved a utilisation rate of 15.94%, reflecting strong early engagement and the value our colleagues place on accessible, trusted wellbeing support.
We continue to support charities and local community initiatives where we can. Now in its fourth year, our annual ‘Bluestem Bake Off’ in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support encourages teambuilding whilst raising money for the charity. Each Christmas, our team donates hundreds of essential food and toiletry items for FIND, a local charity that offers a lifeline to people in Ipswich and the surrounding areas who are experiencing poverty and despair.
At Bluestem Group, we are committed to nurture our people, protect the world and enhance communities, building a sustainable business that we can all continue to be proud of.
Entry ID: 11980
