AW Hainsworth, a 242-year-old woollen mill based in Stanningley, has made a substantial investment in its sustainability strategy.
The company has partnered with Planet Mark, investing in a new sustainability strategy and making progress with its plans to reduce emissions in the short and long term.
The company’s Sustainability Report explains how the historic textiles manufacturer plans is changing how emissions are measured to embrace a data-first approach, incorporating external validation to ensure transparency and efficient tracking.
The cloth producer aims to maintain the heritage production and processes that preserve the company’s history while continuously innovating, reducing its environmental impact year-on-year, and prioritising the well-being of its 210 employees.
The manufacturer also completed a suite of energy-reduction projects, which includes retrofitting existing equipment, replacing 570 lightbulbs with LED lights, and optimising processes for compressed air and heating water.
Last year’s carbon emissions data has been independently verified and certified by Planet Mark, a globally recognised certification body.
Short-term plans include using real-time energy monitoring equipment to track electricity consumption patterns and pinpoint energy-intensive processes. The zero-to-landfill manufacturer will also work towards installing an energy recovery unit to capture waste heat from the flue exhaust gases, which will be used to pre-heat the feed water in a closed loop system, reducing the fuel demand and carbon emissions from this source by over 20%.
The Royal Warrant Holder has created two new job roles dedicated to sustainability. Paul Dudley has been hired as the company’s head of Sustainability and Engineering, responsible for driving sustainability strategy, and Matt Lambert, Senior Process and Sustainability Engineer, who manages sustainability projects and initiatives across the mill.
Managing Director of AW Hainsworth Amanda McLaren said: “We continue to make substantial progress—not only in improving our processes and facilities but also by triggering a company-wide cultural shift towards a sustainable mindset. As a business, our understanding of what sustainability means to us has evolved and grown and now sits at the heart of our company values.
“We’ve set a standard across the mill for sustainable behaviour and it’s been a joy to see the entire Hainsworth team contribute to the creation of a safer, more efficient and responsible business. In 2024 we made our biggest commitment yet.
“A key building block of our sustainability strategy is establishing accurate and comprehensive tracking of all our emissions and output, so we can have a full picture of our carbon footprint and set reduction goals that are substantial yet achievable.
“I have confidence that by investing in rigorous data tracking, committing to continuous process improvement, and prioritising our corporate social responsibilities, AW Hainsworth can continue to set the standard for sustainable textile manufacturing in the UK.”
In 2025, the company aims to build on the insights from its monitoring systems and has identified a suite of improvements to implement to reduce energy usage. One of the planned projects will see work begin on a new borehole water treatment plant. As agreed with Planet Mark, the goal at the end of 2025 is to reduce total carbon emissions by 5%.
Sponsored content
