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Discover our New Season here
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Our Commitments to Sustainability
Our Commitments
to Sustainability
We recognize that impactful and long-lasting change does not happen overnight, which is why we have set clear actions and goals for the coming years to benefit our planet and people.
We truly believe that our Sustainability Strategy will help us to improve our social and environmental footprint, while strengthening our brand for both our customers and employees—we want everyone who shops with us, and works for us, to be proud to do so.
Our vision is to work with global craftspeople and sustain artisanal techniques; to make unique and timeless pieces that encourage our customers to create homes that reflect their personality and inspire them to live well. We champion this vision by making conscious operational and strategic decisions to drive sustainable practices.
We are determined to make our sustainability efforts more transparent and are committed to sharing the progress we make. I am aware that we are at the beginning of our journey, however I am proud of what we are achieved so far and confident that we can continue to reach the targets we have set.
Thank you for your support."
Leila Bailey, Managing Director of OKA
2021’s Sustainability Results, at a Glance
We reduced our plastic packaging
by more than four tons
In our efforts to promote responsible waste management, we have conducted a packaging and recycling review of our entire product range and are making environmentally friendly improvements in both our warehouse and supply chain. In 2021, we reduced our plastic packaging by more than four tons.
We reduced our scope 1&2 greenhouse
gas emissions by 19%
We are committed to achieving a 46% reduction in Scope 1&2 greenhouse gas emissions (against a 2019 baseline) by 2030 in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative. In 2021 we decreased these emissions by 19%; 55.1% of our energy consumption now comes from renewable sources (increased from 39% in 2020).
We reduced our plastic packaging by more than four tons
In our efforts to promote responsible waste management, we have conducted a packaging and recycling review of our entire product range and are making environmentally friendly improvements in both our warehouse and supply chain. In 2021, we reduced our plastic packaging by more than four tons.
We reduced our scope 1&2 greenhouse gas emissions by 19%
We are committed to achieving a 46% reduction in Scope 1&2 greenhouse gas emissions (against a 2019 baseline) by 2030 in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative. In 2021 we decreased these emissions by 19%; 55.1% of our energy consumption now comes from renewable sources (increased from 39% in 2020).
We started auditing our supply chain
in regard to human rights
We acknowledge and respect the basic rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings throughout our entire organization. In 2021 we embarked on third party audits of our supply chain, auditing 50% of our supplier base, as well as launching supplier appraisals to strengthen relationships and ensure labor and human rights issues are addressed.
We continued our partnership with
the Trussell Trust
We want to positively impact society by giving our time and resources to community engagement and development projects across the UK, US, and countries where we source our products and materials. During 2020 and 2021 we partnered with the Trussell Trust—a charity that works to end the need for food banks in the UK—raising over £60,000 for the organization via charitable initiatives and the support of our customers and staff.
We started auditing our supply chain in regard to human rights
We acknowledge and respect the basic rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings throughout our entire organization. In 2021 we embarked on third party audits of our supply chain, auditing 50% of our supplier base, as well as launching supplier appraisals to strengthen relationships and ensure labor and human rights issues are addressed.
We continued our partnership with the Trussell Trust
We want to positively impact society by giving our time and resources to community engagement and development projects across the UK, US, and countries where we source our products and materials. During 2020 and 2021 we partnered with the Trussell Trust—a charity that works to end the need for food banks in the UK—raising over £60,000 for the organization via charitable initiatives and the support of our customers and staff.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
Our entire supply chain will be audited by 2025
We will continue to use third-party auditors to assess compliance with human and labor rights, evaluating our entire supplier base by 2025. We will strive to improve our suppliers’ practices by undertaking collaborative programs with them.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
70% of our packaging, including plastics, will be recyclable by 2030
We’re committed to responsible waste management; we'll achieve our goal of making 70% of our packaging recyclable by removing plastics where possible and replacing them with alternatives that have less impact on the environment.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
All key raw materials will be sustainably sourced or recycled by 2025
We want to be more transparent about the materials we use for our products; we are working towards all key raw materials being sustainably sourced or recycled by 2025.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
We will develop impactful community partnerships in four countries where we operate by 2027
In March 2022 we launched a new UK partnership with Women’s Aid, the national charity working to end domestic abuse. As a brand built on the belief that home should be a sanctuary, a safe place reserved for precious moments with loved ones, we feel passionate about Women’s Aid’s important work and its mission to create a future where survivors feel safe in their homes. We are committed to funding a full-time Direct Services Support Worker who supports survivors of domestic abuse via live digital channels.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
Our entire supply chain will be audited by 2025
We will continue to use third-party auditors to assess compliance with human and labor rights, evaluating our entire supplier base by 2025. We will strive to improve our suppliers’ practices by undertaking collaborative programs with them.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
70% of our packaging, including plastics, will be recyclable by 2030
We’re committed to responsible waste management; we'll achieve our goal of making 70% of our packaging recyclable by removing plastics where possible and replacing them with alternatives that have less impact on the environment.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
All key raw materials will be sustainably sourced or recycled by 2025
We want to be more transparent about the materials we use for our products; we are working towards all key raw materials being sustainably sourced or recycled by 2025.
Looking Ahead
These are the key areas that we will be focusing our efforts on over the coming years.
We will develop impactful community partnerships in four countries where we operate by 2027
In March 2022 we launched a new UK partnership with Women’s Aid, the national charity working to end domestic abuse. As a brand built on the belief that home should be a sanctuary, a safe place reserved for precious moments with loved ones, we feel passionate about Women’s Aid’s important work and its mission to create a future where survivors feel safe in their homes. We are committed to funding a full-time Direct Services Support Worker who supports survivors of domestic abuse via live digital channels.
And the Fundamentals...
What we are always working on and championing; the building blocks of our journey to being a more conscious and sustainable business.
We are a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
OKA has been a member of the UNGC—the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative—since 2019, reporting on our progress annually. The UNGC aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create a more sustainable world.
We are involved in the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
The SBTi provides companies with a clearly defined way to future-proof growth by specifying how quickly, and by how much, they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. It is a collaboration between CDP, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). We are proud is be involved with this initiative; our first target is to achieve a 46% reduction in Scope 1&2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Our Sustainability Strategy is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future". The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030.
And the Fundamentals...
What we are always working on and championing; the building blocks of our journey to being a more conscious and sustainable business.
We are a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
OKA has been a member of the UNGC—the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative—since 2019, reporting on our progress annually. The UNGC aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create a more sustainable world.
We are involved in the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
The SBTi provides companies with a clearly defined way to future-proof growth by specifying how quickly, and by how much, they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. It is a collaboration between CDP, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). We are proud is be involved with this initiative; our first target is to achieve a 46% reduction in Scope 1&2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Our Sustainability Strategy is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future". The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030.
YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED
What is the definition of “Made in England”?
Goods that are manufactured or assembled within the United Kingdom.Where are your products made?
Our collections are a carefully curated celebration of design, color and personality offering quality and individuality to our customers. Our products are manufactured in 13 countries across the globe including the UK, France, Italy, China and India. We have a passion for design and proudly partner with skilled independent craftspeople and family-run businesses wherever in the world they might be. We work closely with all our partners to support the needs to their businesses and ensure that all our products are made to high ethical standards.How do you set your prices?
Since the beginning, our goal has been to offer high-quality products at prices that are fair to both our expert makers and our customers. Our prices reflect the cost of raw materials, workmanship and transportation—which has increased in recent years—and take into account how products of the same premium standard are priced in the market.What are you doing to make your packaging more sustainable?
We are reducing the quantity of packaging where possible and are taking steps to ensure the packaging we collect is sent directly to local recycling companies, ensuring best circularity and best value with minimal energy used in the process. We have reviewed all our packaging and are in the process of delivering improved solutions to reduce waste and reuse where possible. We have set ourselves a commitment to make 70% of our packaging (including plastic) recyclable by 2030 and are currently on track to achieve this.
Why do you sometimes run out of stock?
We do our best to ensure we don’t run out of stock, but the reality is that demand can be hard to predict—sometimes pieces simply prove to be much more popular than we anticipated. As many of our products are handmade or hand finished, our lead times can be six months or more, so stock can take some time to replenish. If favorite items do run out of stock, we take this into account when buying for future collections, but we are careful to avoid overstocking and potential waste.Why do you produce parts of your collection in China?
Global influences are at the heart of OKA’s design process, and we want to preserve techniques from all over the world that have been passed down from generation to generation, some of which may be in danger of becoming extinct in the future. Many artisanal processes have roots in the Far East, and we are proud of the relationships that we have built with our suppliers there over the past 20 years; their skills and expertise help us to create each collection. We are also working on a plan to source products “closer to home” and are working towards increasing the number of new suppliers from the EU, UK and the US.How to you go about choosing your materials?
We consider a variety of criteria when choosing materials, including look and finish, durability, location and supplier. Recycled materials, such as the elm and pine we use, create a rustic effect, whereas smooth oak results in a cleaner and more modern look; the desired aesthetic changes depending on the product. Another factor is how the piece will be used, a dining table, for example, will require a stronger type of wood than a decorative item. Where products are made is another key factor; some suppliers specialize in working with certain materials so we will endeavour to make use of these skills, and natural materials that they can source locally and sustainably.Do you use eco-friendly materials?
During the design process we work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we are sourcing appropriate materials for each item, of the best quality. We are working to improve transparency on the sourcing of raw materials and establish robust processes and systems to integrate responsible practices that respect the environment, people and communities. We are committed to working with suppliers who can offer transparency with raw materials and ensure that, wherever possible, we conserve resources including water and energy, while preventing pollution to air, water and land.