Willerby’s Second Sustainability Report: A Commitment to a Greener Future

Holiday home manufacturer Willerby has cemented its position as a sustainability leader with the release of its second Sustainability Report.

This comprehensive document showcases the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainable innovation, even amid challenging market conditions. The report highlights Willerby’s progress on its journey to a low-carbon future, emphasising key developments across three core areas: its products, people, and place.

Willerby CEO Peter Munk said: “Sustainability can be a challenge, especially in the light of the current difficult market conditions. However, we believe in doing what is right, and believe that a successful future is also a sustainable future so, although our goals remain the same, our pace has to be different so that we can focus on having a long-term sustainable business model built on firm financial foundations”

Key Achievements in Sustainability

Willerby’s efforts over the past year have yielded measurable progress, as highlighted in the report. Among the key achievements are:

• Waste Management: An impressive 94% of total waste generated in the 2023 financial year was either reused, recycled, or converted into energy.
• Energy Efficiency: The installation of over 450 solar panels on building roofs generated nearly 200,000kWh of electricity, while the replacement of 4,000 lights with LED alternatives resulted in a 9.5% reduction in electricity consumption compared to 2022.
• Carbon Emissions: Willerby achieved a 10% reduction in overall emissions from 2022 to 2023, demonstrating its commitment to minimising environmental impact.

These achievements reflect the company’s substantial annual investment in research and development to drive innovative, environmentally sensitive product designs and manufacturing processes.

Pioneering Products and Processes

Willerby’s sustainability journey extends beyond internal operations to the holiday homes it creates. The report highlights the introduction of the Willerby All-E, a ground-breaking all-electric holiday home specification designed to support energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. By embedding sustainability into its product development, the company continues to lead the industry in innovation.

Supporting People and Place

In addition to its product innovations, Willerby remains committed to fostering an environment that nurtures personal and professional growth among its employees. Nearly 50 team members have participated in leadership and management development programmes, and 96% of staff attended a training event in 2023, reflecting the company’s dedication to upskilling its workforce.

Willerby also plays an active role in its local community, contributing to projects and charities in the region while supporting the area’s broader decarbonisation efforts. Looking ahead, the company is investigating the feasibility of further solar power installations and exploring the use of wind turbines at its Hull headquarters.

A Sustainable Future

The report’s three core themes – Product, People, and Place – demonstrate Willerby’s commitment to sustainable development.

CEO Peter Munk added: “We’re constantly looking for the most efficient and sustainable ways to run our business and believe publishing an annual and transparent Sustainability Report holds us accountable in doing so.

We want to demonstrate to our customers, partners and suppliers the very wide range of actions we are taking to create realistic, sustainable solutions that pave the way to a lower carbon future.

We’re proud of the further strides we have made over the past year through our products, people and place in the Humber region. We’re continuing to work with partners and suppliers to further enhance our green credentials and support the wider holiday parks industry’s sustainability drive.”

Pictures: Shaun Flannery Photography.