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RS Group's 2024/25 ESG Report: A Journey Towards Sustainability

In a pivotal moment for RS Group plc, the recently released 2024/25 ESG report marks a significant milestone, illustrating notable strides made towards fulfilling its ambitious 2030 ESG action plan, aptly titled "For a Better World." As a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial clients, RS Group emphasizes sustainability as a core tenet of its strategy and operations, firmly positioning itself to create enduring value for stakeholders.

A Comprehensive Assessment

The foundation of this year’s report rests on a thorough double materiality assessment, which identified RS Group’s most impactful ESG-related risks and opportunities. This evaluation led to a refined focus on four global ESG goals, encompassing fourteen specific ambitions that aim to bolster sustainability, empower their workforce, support youth and communities, and conduct business responsibly.

Advancing Sustainability

Among their key achievements in sustainability, RS Group has successfully:

• - Customer Experience Improvement: Achieved a remarkable 7% year-over-year reduction in direct CO₂ emissions, translating to a significant 64% decrease compared to the 2019/20 baseline.
• - Smarter Packaging Initiatives: The company has introduced packaging solutions that minimize waste. Currently, 94% of RS packaging is recyclable, and 82% comprises over 50% recycled content. Furthermore, driven by positive outcomes, RS Group has escalated its target for packaging intensity reduction from 30% to an ambitious 45% by the end of 2029/30.
• - Optimized Shipping Practices: In a move towards localized sourcing and distribution, RS Group has reduced Scope 3 product transport emissions intensity by 26% since the 2019/20 period. This initiative has led to an extension of their 2030 emission reduction target from 25% to 35%.
• - Product Offerings for Enhanced Efficiency: The company now provides over 30,000 products specifically designed to improve efficiency and meet rising ESG standards across 30 countries, representing a diverse portfolio of 345 product families sourced from 132 suppliers.

Empowering Our People

Focusing on internal culture and values, RS Group strives to:

• - Promote Inclusion: Their latest employer value proposition, "Go Beyond Amazing," aims to foster an environment in which all employees can excel, leading to a 3% increase in female leadership representation, now at 37%.
• - Enhance Workplace Safety: A comprehensive safety training program has been rolled out, with employees collectively completing nearly 27,000 hours of training thus far, supporting a robust safety culture.

Supporting Youth and Communities

RS Group is deeply invested in community development, reflected in:

• - Investment in Future Talent: Since the 2020/21 period, RS Group has supported over 913,000 young individuals, providing them with valuable skill-building opportunities in engineering and industrial innovation.
• - Charitable Contributions: Through its efforts, RS Group has raised over $1.1 million for The Washing Machine Project and has initiated a community giving fund, empowering 30% of employees to engage in volunteer work within the last two years.

Committing to Responsible Business Practices

RS Group's dedication to ethical business conduct is illustrated by its collaborations with over 2,500 suppliers, aiming to enhance ethical and environmental standards throughout the value chain:

• - Sustainability Ratings: Currently, 55% of RS suppliers by spend are evaluated by EcoVadis, with 38% having established science-based targets.
• - Sustainability Recognition: Notably, RS Group has earned a prestigious place on CDP's A-List for climate action and transparency, maintaining EcoVadis Platinum status for three consecutive years. Moreover, it has been listed among TIME magazine’s World's Most Sustainable Companies for 2025.

A Unified Approach to Future Growth

The establishment of the Chief Sustainability Officer role underscores RS Group's commitment to consolidating its sustainability and social impact efforts. This strategic alignment not only fortifies partnerships with customers and suppliers but also enhances sustainable product development and community engagement.

Andrea Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at RS Group, stated, "We are incredibly proud of the progress made towards our 2030 goals. Our dedication to sustainability places us at the core of a more responsible global industrial sector. By collaborating with our partners, we are expanding sustainable offerings, advancing our distribution network, and progressing towards our net zero goals. Our robust sustainability performance is integral to our strategic growth and future success."

As RS Group gears up for the next five years, accountability and value creation remain priorities in its quest for a sustainable future. To explore the comprehensive findings of the 2024/25 ESG Report, visit RS Group’s website.

About RS Group

RS Group is a leading global product and service solutions provider catering to industrial customers across 36 markets. With over 830,000 industrial and specialist products in stock, the company supports clients throughout their operational lifecycle—from design through to equipment maintenance. Their extensive offerings, merged with technical expertise and a strong commitment to sustainable practices, define RS Group’s operational ethos. Listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker RS1, the company reported revenues of £2,904 million for the year ending March 31, 2025.