Our 2024 Impact Report
Leadership Letter
Ian Greaves, Chief Executive Officer
How quickly another year with St. Eval being part of the B Corp community has flown past. It is only when we pause to reflect that we realise the tremendous amount of good our team has accomplished, all while continuing to grow our business. This report reflects our commitment to create a positive impact on society and the environment, whilst also driving sustainable business practices.
I am tremendously proud not only of what the team have achieved but also how they have done it. One of our significant achievements this year was the switch to 100% recyclable packaging. This was no easy task, but the team adopted this vision and made it their own, overcoming numerous challenges along the way.
Our charitable work continues to support various causes. While focusing on our collaboration with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust—particularly the beaver project, which is part of the Helman Tor rewilding initiative that has progressed faster than we could have imagined—we have also supported food
banks, mental health initiatives (such as sponsoring artist Ben Sanderson to bring art into hospitals), local children-focused charities, and many others. This year, we look forward to working with organisations that have become friends and exploring new areas where we can make a difference in the charitable sector.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our organisation. This commitment led me to join the environmental working group of the European Candle Makers Association and to lead the creation of an environmental committee for the British Candlemakers Federation. My focus within these groups is to promote the accurate measurement of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across the industry, providing us with a clear understanding of what we need to do to reduce our carbon footprint.
I am immensely proud of what the team has achieved and how they have done so. I look forward to another year of growth, impact, and sustainable practices.
OUR PURPOSE
Our purpose is to create an environment that enriches people’s lives.
Proudly part of the B Corp community, we strive to tread softly on the Earth and place people and the planet at our heart.
Highlights of 2023
Entered the 2nd year of our Helman Tor Beaver project with Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Improvement of culture, with 90%* understanding how their work contributes to the St. Eval mission
Two of our team recognised for awards at the Cornwall Manufacturer’s Group Awards
Held 3 company-wide social events
Donated over £67,000 to over 100 charities
Introduced Bupa Dental Plan insurance for all employees
Over 4 million candles produced
Sponsored artist Ben Sanderson for our Hospital Rooms partnerships
Partnered with Good Company to host a sustainable supper club with B Corp business leaders
100% of our packaging is now recyclable
Sent 550kg surplus wax to Ukraine to be made into candles
Installed a duck house on our pond and welcomed our first wild ducks
*This benchmark figure comes from our first Diversity, Equality & Inclusion survey. Our goal is to increase this figure by 10% in the next survey
Over 492 hours of training undertaken by our team
Introduced enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Progress Timeline
2010
2011
Installed 10kw of solar panels on our factory roof
2013
Installed a wind turbine to help power our factory
Received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2022
2016
Created a corn bunting field on the farm as a haven for endangered birds
2017
Installed two biomass boilers to expand our renewable energy generation
Installed a further 10kw of solar panels on our factory roof 2021
Installed a waste treatment plant on-site that takes effluent and breaks it down into clean water
Installed a further 100kw of solar panels as part of our new factory expansion
Began harvesting rainwater for our lake
2024
Created a swallow friendly area in the factory for nesting
Installed two EV charging points for employees and visitors to use
Added bee bricks, bat boxes & swift boxes to our building and around our pond
Added a duck house to our pond
Created a tree nursery by our wind turbine
Built a bee-wall to provide haven for solitary bees
Added a Terracycle zero waste box in our canteen for hard to recycle crisp, snack and sweets packaging
Our Journey
To B Corp Certification
St. Eval was founded in 1993 on a picturesque farm in North Cornwall by Tim and Sara YoungJamieson. Right from the beginning, we held a deep commitment to giving back to the local community and becoming a great place to work. As we flourished, so did our dedication to preserving the environment and the diverse wildlife surrounding us; our farm has been our haven and inspiration ever since.
Inspired by the natural landscape and the stories that surround us, we infuse each candle and fragrance with a sense of place. By harmonising traditional craftsmanship with innovative techniques, we uphold time-honoured candlemaking while seamlessly integrating new technology to refine our craft.
Sustainability and minimising our environmental impact have always been priorities at St. Eval. Joining the B Corp community amplifies these efforts, strengthening our credibility and providing a clear path for sustainable growth. We focus on making real, measurable progress while maintaining the trust and confidence of everyone we work with. Being part of the B Corp community helps us to improve holistically and consistently across the business.
For 30 years, St. Eval has been a pioneer in ethical and sustainable business. B Corp Certification allowed us to reflect on our journey and identify new opportunities to improve – for our team, our customers, our community, and the planet.
Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do. From our production methods to the materials we choose, we’re dedicated to minimising our environmental impact and enhancing the natural beauty around us. This commitment shines through in our continuous efforts to innovate and embrace eco-friendly practices.
We are incredibly proud of the products we make on our farm in North Cornwall and the positive impact we continue to have. As we publish our second impact report, we are inspired to push further, innovate more, and deepen our commitment to making a difference.
Our Road Map
To Net Zero
Netzeroby2030
Ahead of the UK Government’s goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, we are passionately committed to sustainability.
Under the inspiring leadership of Chris Hines, we’ve established an in-house environmental team dedicated to this mission. Our aim is clear: to become Net Zero by 2030. Each year, we’ll set ambitious targets to steadily reduce our emissions, with any remaining unavoidable emissions being offset by 2030. This year, we have begun measuring our carbon footprint to support this aim by understanding the scope of our impact.
We’re taking a holistic approach to this challenge, focusing on both big changes and small actions. We believe that collective small actions can lead to great change, so we’re examining every aspect of our operations to find ways to reduce our environmental impact.
We’re committed to making meaningful changes by prioritising emission reductions over offsetting. Our journey is driven by the belief that every step we take today brings us closer to a sustainable future for all.
Our B Corp Score
By being a B Corp, we are held accountable to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This drives us to continually improve and innovate, ensuring that our actions align with our purpose and contribute to a more sustainable future.
While we have made significant progress by increasing our score in four out of the five sections of the B Corp assessment, we acknowledge that there are still areas where we can further enhance our performance. The assessment acts as a valuable framework for us to evaluate our impact and progress. It not only helps us monitor our current performance but also challenges us to strive for continuous improvement. We are committed to actively measuring our efforts and working diligently to enhance our performance across all areas before our next recertification in 2025.
PEOPLE
We believe positive change starts with us
At St. Eval, our people are truly the heart and soul of everything we do. Our success and ability to create positive change come directly from supporting the wellbeing, growth, and empowerment of our team
When our people thrive, so do we. It’s their commitment and energy that makes all the difference, helping us achieve our goals and make a real impact.
Empowering our team is the first step towards driving positive change.
What
wewesaidwould do... What we did What we’re planning
J Introduce Death-in-Service insurance for all employees
J Launching our first employee appraisal system August 2023
J Using employee feedback as a catalyst to implement real change that employees want to see
J Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: policy development and employee training
J Create a learning and development strategy for our people
J Introduced Death-in-Service insurance for all employees
J Launched our first employee appraisal system
J Implemented an anonymous feedback form for employees to ask questions which get addressed in our monthly team meeting, ensuring everyone has a voice
J Enrolled everyone on a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training course
J Published our first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy
J Enhanced family leave policiesmaternity, paternity, shared parental leave, adoption leave
J Enhanced our compassionate leave policy
J Created a St. Eval library to support our learning culture
J Increased scores for our Engagement Survey in Feedback & Recognition (+10), Work & Life Balance (+10) and Leadership (+12) vs the previous year
J Host keynote speakers at our monthly all-hands meeting
J Cross-trained our teams to achieve greater job diversity
J Added new policies: Sabbatical, Menopause, AI and Stakeholder Engagement
J Introduced free menstrual products for female workers, and extra complimentary feminine and masculine hygiene products for the workforce
J Introduced Bupa Dental Plan insurance
J Enhanced our onboarding procedure to improve employee experience by investing more in induction and training
J Over 492 hours of training completed by our team
J Launched an employee recognition program to increase peer-to-peer recognition and share exceptional work throughout the company
J Established an external engagement survey for our staff
J Further promoting sustainability practices and development with all team members
J Two of our team recognised for awards at the Cornwall Manufacturer’s Group Awards – Jo Shalders, Business Leadership Award and Cameron van Balkom, Apprentice of the Year
J Create a learning and development strategy for our people
J Offering an introduction to human rights course to be rolled out during the 2024 appraisal process
J Implement inter-department taster experiences at the end of the probation period
J Continue to host keynote speakers at our company-wide meetings
J Maintain our UK Living Wage Foundation accreditation
Cross-training our teams to achieve greater
job diversity
To keep work engaging and interesting for our production team, we’ve implemented a crosstraining initiative across the factory. By equipping employees with versatile skills, we’ve enhanced job diversity and adaptability, fostering a resilient organisation capable of agile responses to evolving needs. This approach promotes continuous learning, collaboration, transferable skills and career development, empowering team members to seamlessly transition between roles and departments.
“Being cross-trained helps me connect with colleagues across different departments, keeping my work engaging and varied. I enjoy learning transferable skills that are valuable in any role.”
Sam, Production Operative
Monthly keynote speakers to
inspire and educate
Our monthly all-hands team meetings have been enriched by the addition of keynote speakers, infusing these gatherings with diverse perspectives and captivating presentations. Among them are Emily from Beach Guardian and internationally renowned artist Andy Hughes, who have graciously shared their expertise and passion with us, elevating our discussions and inspiring us towards greater heights.
COMMUNITY
Creating a strong sense of community
What wewesaidwould do...
J Donate 1% of turnover to charity in 2023
J We aim to increase our employee volunteering hours
What we did
J Donated 1% of turnover to charity in 2023
J Increased our volunteering hours by 105%
J Funded transport for educational trips for our local primary school in St Eval
J Sent 550kg surplus wax to Ukraine to be made into candles, giving light to those in times of darkness
J Created an internal charity tracker system to ensure we have the biggest impact through our donations
J Rolled out a work experience programme to support local schools
J Sponsored an artist for a project with Hospital Rooms and Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust
J Hosted a King’s Award for Enterprise event at St. Eval HQ, with over 60 attendees from businesses all over the South West
J Sponsored three of our team to cycle 100 hilly miles around Cornwall, raising money for CoppaFeel
J Company wide Wear it Pink Day, raising £115 for Breast Cancer UK
J Supported year 11 students by participating in mock interview workshop before their actual interviews for college and apprenticeships
J Participated in local careers fair to showcase nearby job opportunities within the local area
J Hosted the 3rd-year university students in Business & Entrepreneurship, Business Management and Business and Digital Marketing at our factory - provided a tour and presentation on our sustainability journey and how this benefits the overall business strategy
J Collaborated with the local Women’s Institute in curating a Lifelong Learning experience for its members, which consisted of a tour of the factory and talk on the production of candles
What we’re planning
J Continue to donate 1% of turnover to charity in 2024
J A further increase in employee volunteering hours
J Continuing to support the people of Ukraine with surplus wax
J Furthering our support and collaborations with local schools and scout groups
J Providing on-site factory tours for local businesses, schools and community groups
J Continuing our monthly donations to the Royal Cornwall Hospitals
J Continue to develop community relationships
Driving positive change Through our community
Hospital Rooms:
Hospital Rooms is a mental health charity that believes in the enduring power of the arts to instill value, dignity and wellbeing in people. They commission museum quality artists to create inventive, compelling and compliant environments and artworks for mental health units.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust:
Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes in a wilder future for Cornwall, where our wildlife and wild places are cherished for all to enjoy. With the support of our members, we implement projects on land and at sea, conducting campaigns and managing wild spaces to ensure nature in Cornwall thrives for future generations.
The Trussell Trust:
The Trussell Trust is an NGO and charity that works to end the need for food banks in the United Kingdom. They support a nationwide network of food banks and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Hospital Rooms Partnership
Hospital Rooms is an arts and mental health charity that commissions extraordinary high-quality artworks for inpatient mental health wards across the country. For their current project, in collaboration with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, they have commissioned twelve acclaimed artists to create brand new, permanent, site-specific artworks for the inpatient mental health wards in Bodmin and Redruth.
We are incredibly proud to support this project in sponsoring Cornish artist Ben Sanderson, who is enhancing the Dining Room at Cove Ward in Camborne and Redruth Community Hospital. Over the past year, Ben has been dedicated to creating a bespoke piece of artwork to adorn the walls of the Dining Room. This piece has been developed through a series of creative workshops, including two at the prestigious Tate St Ives and one at Cove Ward, directly involving patients in the artistic process.
The dynamic, year-long collaboration with patients, staff, and members of the public directly affected by Cornwall’s mental health services ensures that the artwork will deeply resonate with the community it is designed to serve. This collaboration transforms the Dining Room into an inspiring, soothing environment where people can find space for creative activity and expression.
Hospital Rooms seeks to challenge the idea that art is a luxury and that it can only be enjoyed and practised by certain people with certain backgrounds or skills. They hope to initiate a wave for change and catalyse a fundamental shift in the way we consider and treat those during the most difficult of mental health diagnoses, working towards long term change and generating hope for a better tomorrow.
“St. Eval is a lovely organisation to work with, and both companies share a desire to make the world a better place.”
Anna Testar – Senior Project Curator, Hospital Rooms
1% of turnover to Charity
We are proud to donated 1% of our turnover to support over 100 charities. Here, we shine a light on some of the incredible causes we have supported across the South West and beyond. This tradition is close to our hearts, reminding us of the importance of gratitude and making a positive impact.
Reflecting on the past year, we take pride in the lasting difference we’ve made together, embodying values of kindness, sustainability, and community support.
Keeping sustainability as our guiding principle ENVIRONMENT
What wewesaidwould do... What we did What we’re planning
J Donate 1% of turnover to charity in 2023
J Continue to work on recording employee commuting and air travel emissions
J Donated 1% of turnover to charity, with a significant portion going to Cornwall Wildlife Trust for our Helman Tor project
J Built a relationship with a family-run factory in Portugal, reducing our carbon footprint
J Joined the European Candle Manufactures Assocation environmental committee
J Our CEO, Ian has been heavily involved in establishing the environmentally committee for the British Candle Federation’
J Installed a duck house on our wildlife pond to offer wild ducks a safe haven
J Reestablished an environmental committee at St. Eval
J Swapped single-use cleaning cloths to Mewa rags, which are reused and washed with recycled water
J Our CEO, Ian Greaves, established and chairs an environmental committee at the British Candlemakers Federation
J Increased recycling points throughout the site
J Created a tree nursery at St. Eval
J Share our data files via secure links –reducing email traffic
J Reducing waste and energy on our Drawing machine by valuing waste as a resource
J Improved efficiency and reduced waste throughout production, embedding a reduce and reuse first culture
J Provided support and resources for our supply chain in adopting greenhouse gas minimised operations
J Started monitoring our water usage in 2024
J Expanded our Bee accommodation with a Bee wall between our old and new factory
J Installed TerraCycle Zero Waste Box in our canteen, to responsibly dispose of difficult waste
J Install barn owl housing
J Create a dashboard to monitor energy use and identify efficiencies
J Begin measuring our carbon emissions, with the help of Carbone Four
J Consulting with local specialists on regenerative farming
J Create objectives and quantifiable environmental targets
J Purchase a hot box to compost our food waste
J Define reduction targets for energy and water usage
J Establish our biodiversity baseline
St. Eval
Building a greener future
When we settled into our new factory over a year ago, we wanted our space to blend seamlessly with the natural beauty around us while also running in harmony with the environment; keeping sustainability as our guiding principle.
Thanks to our dedicated efforts in designing a sustainable factory, we’ve laid a strong foundation for reducing our emissions and protecting the environment around us. By integrating rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and wildlife habitats, we’ve already made significant strides. Now, our sights are set on our next environmental goals, building upon our sustainable successes to drive a positive impact.
“Like a slow burn candle St.Eval have a careful, steady and genuinely embedded approach to sustainability in all that they do. Always looking for that extra next element to ensure they continue to stretch social and environmental goals. It is a genuine pleasure to work with the St.Eval team.” - Chris
Hines
Treading softly on the Earth and creating an environment where nature thrives...
Cornwall Wildlife Trust Beaver Project
Helman Tor – One Year In
A year ago, we pledged £150,000 over three years to support the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Beaver Project at Helman Tor, a vital conservation initiative for the county.
In the first year, our funding has enabled the recruitment of a dedicated Beaver Project Officer, Lauren Jasper, who has been instrumental in managing the project. Under Lauren’s leadership, significant progress has been made. Key baseline data has been gathered, laying the groundwork for the next phases of the project.
An essential part of the first year’s efforts has been preparing for the formal engagement period, which aims to gauge public opinion in the catchment area surrounding the wild beaver release site. This community engagement is crucial to ensure local support and understanding of the project’s goals and potential impacts.
To further bolster the project, we invited our staff to take time out of the business to volunteer their time and efforts to help clear the reserve. The area, which has been attempting to revert to woodland in the absence of beavers and other herbivores, required significant clearing. Our team has been actively involved in cutting back
vegetation to create open glades, preparing the habitat for the potential release of beavers.
As we move into the second year of our support, we remain committed to the successful reintroduction of beavers at Helman Tor and look forward to continued collaboration with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
“We know that nature when given time, space and support can and will recover and that beavers will play a huge part in that. Thank you for helping to make this project happen.”
Lauren Jasper – Beaver Project Officer
Our New Duck House
While installing a duck house may seem like a small step, by providing a safe haven for wild ducks on our premises we’re not only fostering biodiversity but also creating a tangible connection between our operations and the natural world around us.
Every action, no matter how seemingly small, contributes to a positive environmental impact.
Our CEO, Ian, donning his waders to install our new duck house
The guiding force behind positive change CUSTOMERS
What wewesaidwould do...
J We will continue using recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials for all St Eval products and packaging
J Communicate material choices to customers more clearly
What we did
J Use only recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials throughout our product ranges
J Communicate material choices to customers clearly on product pages and through insightful blog posts
J A more considered approach to our stockist onboarding experience to offer a more personal service
J Enhance customer complaints procedure to improve recording and processing of any issues
J Achieved a 90% SLA (Service Level Agreement) target
J Recruited a Sales Manager to build and nurture relationships
J Used information gathered in our customer surveys to inform new product development
J Enhanced the website experience for users by redesigning the menu options, incorporating improved search functions, and increasing product visibility
J Expanded trade show presence in the UK to reach new customers
J Partnered with like-minded Cornish companies to create in-person events focusing on sustainability and nature
What we’re planning
J Set a 96% SLA (Service Level Agreement) target within the next 12 months
J Measure and reduce our carbon footprint for business travel and events
J Develop new products using insight gathered from our customers
J Provide inspiration to help customers better repurpose our vessels
J Share more customer success stories highlighting the power of fragrance in connecting with nature
J Investigate store locations for a central point where customers can experience all our products in person
J Introducing a loyalty program, rewarding our loyal customers
At St. Eval, we truly believe in the power of genuine connections with our customers; they are the driving force behind the positive changes and sustainable practices we aim to achieve and inspire us to push boundaries and exceed expectations.
Best smell ever
I spoke to a lovely helpful lady and I’ve always had a good experience.
Super
Marvellous products with great design and scents. Excellent service too - arrives sustainably packed and very swiftly.
Sea Salt - Ocean air in a candle
My favourite scent is Sea Salt which I would encourage anyone who loves the ozonic aroma of the seashore to try. It really is evocative of ocean air. The potted candles that you can buy are beautiful and I intend to return soon to purchase one.
A lovely fresh clean scent
The website is really easy to use and the packaged when delivered is easy to reuse/ recycle which is important to me.
Fantastic company with fantastic products
Always superb, quick delivery and really well packaged.
Ethical & responsible decision making GOVERNANCE
What wewesaidwould do...
J Sharing our B Corp Impact Report with all our suppliers
J Increase the percentage of UK and Europe suppliers we work with
What we did What we’re planning
J We shared our B Corp Impact Report with all of our suppliers
J Increased the number of UK and European suppliers we work with, including ceramic sourcing from Portugal
J Transported 100% of our raw materials from suppliers by land and sea, not air
J Provided guidance, support and knowledge for those embarking on their B Corp journey
J Created management operational plans
J Began working with Chris Hines, cofounder of Surfers Against Sewage, to supercharge our environmental efforts
J Completed our first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion employee survey
J Rolled out 1:1’s company-wide, launched appraisals, and continued our all-hands meetings
J Implemented horizon scanning for all departments
J Develop a stakeholder engagement plan
J Continue to support our Supplier Code of Conduct for everyone we work with
J Create a non-executive board to advise, mentor and challenge the executive team
J Review impact performance at every board meeting
J Implement metrics and standards to measure and report on our social and environmental performance.
Collabroative Change Working Together for Better
At St. Eval, we believe that true progress is achieved through collaboration and transparency. In our previous B Corp Impact Report, we extended an invitation to our valued suppliers to share their insights and contributions towards sustainability. This initiative was designed to foster a sense of collective responsibility and continuous improvement within our supply chain.
The feedback we received was not only informative but also inspiring. We were delighted to learn about the brilliant sustainability initiatives that many of our suppliers have implemented. These ranged from innovative waste reduction strategies to ambitious carbon neutrality goals. It was clear that our email had prompted thoughtful reflection and a renewed commitment to sustainable practices among our partners.
“It’s an honour to be associated with a company that values not only its bottom line but also the wellbeing of people and the planet.”
Dolecki
Founder Message
Sara Young-Jamieson, Founder
The past year has been remarkable for St. Eval, filled with growth, inspiration, and continued commitment to our core values. As we reflect on this period, we are reminded of the timeless significance of light - a beacon of warmth, connection and guidance through the ages. In the tranquil glow of a candle’s gentle flame, we find a bridge to our ancient roots, a space where stories are shared, and a sense of calm prevails.
Over three decades ago, my late husband and I dreamt up the brave idea to start St. Eval in the family farmhouse kitchen – within a few months, we were on our way to Bavaria to collect our very first Drawing machine! Little did we know that this small spark of an idea would grow into the radiant light that is St. Eval today. From the very beginning, our intentions were to create nature-inspired fragrances that transport you to the enchanting corners of Cornwall, where nature’s wonders inspire our every creation, whilst treading softly on the path of tradition and sustainability. We started crafting beautiful Church candles – elegant in their simplicity – and quickly moved on to fragranced; Tranquillity was the very first fragrance we created, and it remains one of our most loved to this day.
Our roots are deeply intertwined with the natural world that surrounds us. The rugged coasts and gentle countryside of Cornwall have always been the centre of our inspiration. It is this profound connection to nature that
fuels our commitment to minimising our environmental footprint, and create fragrances that truly reflect the natural world.
Our success is inseparable from the wellbeing of the area that has embraced us, which is why we are devoted to uplifting and supporting the community that has made our journey possible and preserving the nature which surrounds us here in Cornwall.
Our team has always been at the heart and soul of St. Eval and treating our staff with kindness, respect, and compassion is something we pride ourselves on. Their wellbeing is paramount, for they are the true architects of the magic that illuminates your homes and lives.
As we release our second impact report and look forward to the exciting plans on our horizon, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey in creating beautiful candles and home fragrances. Your support has been the light that guides us, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without you. Thank you for believing in us and helping us bring warmth and joy into homes everywhere.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible team, dedicated suppliers, generous charity partners, loyal customers, and supportive community. Your passion, interest, and encouragement mean the world to us.
As we continue our impact journey and look ahead to our recertification in 2025, we can’t wait to share exciting updates, fresh ideas, and our progress with you. Thank you for being with us every step of the way.
