David Bailey Furniture – our journey to net zero

David Bailey Furniture Systems is committed to building a more sustainable future – and as part of our ongoing programme to reduce our environmental impact, we have developed a comprehensive Carbon Reduction Plan – one which sets out our path to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
We have come a long way since 2021, when we first set our sights on achieving this target. It’s been a challenging, but rewarding journey and we are proud to share the progress we have made so far – and how we plan to keep improving.
Back in 2021, when we first took a hard look at our environmental impact – the numbers were sobering. We were using 241,592 kWh of electricity and 109,512 kWh of natural gas annually to power our facilities. Our company-owned vehicles were burning through over 27,500 litres of fuel every year, creating nearly 67 tonnes of CO₂.
In addition, our employee travel, waste disposal and water usage were all adding to our overall carbon footprint. We knew we had to act – and fast. So, we created a detailed carbon reduction plan with clear targets and a commitment to transform the way we operate.
Making real change
Since then, we have made significant progress by focusing on practical, meaningful changes. Switching to LED lighting and PIR controls immediately reduced our energy consumption and was one of the quickest wins, making an immediate difference. We also cut down on business travel by encouraging staff to carpool, work more flexibly and switch to electric or hybrid cars where possible.
As a company, we invested in more energy-efficient machinery, which allowed us to maintain production quality while using less power. Recycling and waste reduction was another initiative, ensuring none of our waste goes to landfill anymore. Instead, it’s processed to generate energy, helping to close the loop on our production cycle. In short, turning waste into fuel has helped reduce emissions and waste simultaneously.
In addition, by increasing the numbers of electric and hybrid company vehicles – at the time of writing 20% of our fleet is electric or hybrid – has led to further savings – and we are determined to increase that percentage.
The results so far
All of this hard work has paid off. Since 2021, we have reduced our overall emissions by a remarkable 46% – the equivalent of cutting out 129.24 tonnes of CO₂ every year. By 2023, our total emissions had dropped from 281.57 tCO₂e in 2021 to 152.33 tCO₂e – nearly halving our carbon footprint in just two years. And in 2024, we saw further reductions, with projected emissions of 133.48 tCO₂e.
We know the job isn’t finished yet, but we are well on our way. Our goal is to reduce emissions by 64% by 2030, bringing our total footprint down to 100.17 tCO₂e and to reach this goal, we are exploring even more ways to cut our impact.
We are working with Low Carbon Kent to secure funding to install solar panels on our workshop roof, reducing our reliance on the grid. Through the Kent Revs scheme, we are also testing electric vans to see if they can replace our current fleet.
Every detail counts and even the products we use to clean our facilities are part of the plan. Moving to paperless systems by going fully digital, will help to reduce paper waste and improve efficiency. Recruiting locally and encouraging sustainable commuting will also help to reduce travel emissions.
Our commitment
We are proud of what we have achieved so far, but we are not stopping here. Achieving Net Zero by 2050 is a long-term goal that requires consistent effort and innovation. We will continue to refine our processes, adopt new technologies and inspire our team to be part of the solution.
At David Bailey Furniture, sustainability is not just about ticking boxes – it’s about building a business that future generations can be proud of. Every step we take brings us closer to a greener, more sustainable future.
Tony Hugghins, managing director – David Bailey Furniture Systems