Sustainability Policy

Watts & Co. is a heritage vestment-makers based in Westminster, London. The majority of our garments are made on-site, including our vestment workshop where items are stitched by hand. 
We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment, and to fostering a company culture that is both conscious and responsible for our effect on the climate. 

 

Values

  • We care about our community, our customers, our suppliers and our planet. 
  • We treat people with respect and how we would like to be treated.
  • We operate a business model that favours garment longevity and preserves traditional handcrafting techniques, so that our products have a long lifecycle.
  • We understand the need to protect our natural environment and limit the day-to-day impact of our business. 
  • We champion and work with local charities and churches, giving back to our local community.  
  • We ensure appropriate consideration is given to the environmental, social, and ethical impacts of the goods and services we buy.

 

Actions

The following points outline the steps we are taking as a company to mitigate our environmental impact.

 

Energy & Water Use

  • Switch off lights and equipment when not required, and always at the end of the day.
  • Monitor and repair dripping taps in a timely manner.
  • Move towards LED lighting across our office. Workroom lights have already been switched to LED for greater efficiency.
  • Review and update machinery and technology as required to more efficient models. 
  • Encourage the building landlord to develop more sustainable energy usage.


Waste Management

  • Recycle cardboard, glass, paper, plastics, and ink cartridges.
  • Encourage responsible purchasing to limit need for wastage in the first place
  • Ensure hazardous items (e.g., chemicals, fluorescent tubes, batteries, electrical items) are disposed of safely (and recycled where possible). 
  • Cut fabrics and materials in a way that minimises wastage. We reserve our offcuts to be used in future projects, and any smaller pieces are sold for domestic projects or donated to local charitable crafting workshops. 
  • Textile waste comprising pieces too small for further use are responsibly disposed of at a local textile recycling facility.

 

Staff Wellbeing

  • Encourage staff to travel to work via public transport.
  • Staff are allowed to work from home on request.
  • Grant additional day of leave for birthdays, as well as automatic holiday between Christmas and New Years.
  • We are an equal opportunities employer.

 

Materials & Resources

  • Use double-sided printing and back-to-back photocopying to minimise use of paper.
  • Distribute meeting agendas and minutes electronically. 
  • Minimise the printing of reports and documents. 
  • Use responsibly-sourced paper packaging and bags where possible.
  • Design new products with ecological packaging solutions in mind.
  • Work closely with our suppliers to ensure responsible procurement of fabrics and materials. We prioritise use of UK-based manufacturers to ensure quality and minimal shipping distance.


Our Manufacturing

  • Offer a repair and restoration service for our garments to renew their usage. 
  • Prioritise use of natural fibre fabrics in our products.
  • Design garments to be made with responsible techniques and materials to ensure their longevity. 
  • Never throw away garments, and donate them to charitable organisations if they cannot be repurposed or are no longer needed on site. 
  • Offer majority made-to-order products to eliminate overstocking of products and needless garment waste.


Accountability

The implementation of this policy will be ensured by:

  • Clear communication to staff at induction and on an ongoing basis of the contents of this policy. 
  • Allocating specific responsibilities and actions to staff members to ensure they are implemented.  


Published July 2026