Our Sustainable Goals

At Curious Universe we care about sustainability and our impact on the world. We are committed to be more sustainably aware as a company, employer and community member whilst continuing to excite children, adults, and our retailers with innovative and inspiring products.

We are committed to using sustainably sourced and recyclable paper in our products. With the target of using 100% paper from sustainably managed forests.

We are committed to reducing unnecessary packaging and resizing our products to reduce our carbon footprint during production.

We are committed to working with ethical suppliers to ensure they contribute positively to the lives of their employees, local communities and the environment.

We are committed to supporting our chosen charities through our Corporate Volunteering scheme, fundraising activities or providing for those in need within our community.

We are committed to being an inclusive workplace that embraces and supports diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment practices and company culture as well as creating products that are suitable for our wonderfully diverse customers.

We are committed to calculating and reducing our carbon footprint, improving recycling opportunities and reducing our waste.

Our Mission Statement

At Curious Universe, we believe that creativity and sustainability go hand in hand.

As a UK-based publisher and manufacturer of children’s products, toys, and books, we are committed to minimising our environmental impact while continuing to deliver products that inspire joy, learning, and imagination in children around the world.

Our Vision

To become a leading force in sustainable creativity – where innovation, responsibility, and fun shape a better future for people and the planet.

Where We Are Now

Sustainability is already woven into many aspects of our business.

Publicly, our website and communications reflect that commitment, especially through our Curiously Green initiative. This campaign
encourages customers to regift, reuse, and recycle our products, supporting a
product lifecycle that goes beyond first use.

Behind the scenes, practical steps we’ve taken to reduce our carbon footprint include:

  • Phasing out plastic components like wafer seals and blisters in favour of recyclable paper-based alternatives.
  • Reviewing our product formats for opportunities to optimise size and improve material sustainability.
  • Committing to the use of 100%
    sustainable-forestry materials for all products.
  • Launching office-wide environmental initiatives, including a 100% electric company-car fleet, electric charging points, recycling programmes, and PrintReleaf offsetting.
  • Promoting diversity and inclusivity across our product content and teams.

Our Carbon Footprint

We have now completed our first operational carbon footprint assessment to better understand where we can make the biggest difference.

Our total footprint is 189.5 tonnes CO₂, or 2.4 tonnes per employee – well below the benchmark for typical office-based organisations (3–5 tonnes).

92% of emissions come from Scope 3 activities, including commuting, business travel, and purchased services.

We are already identifying actions that will reduce our emissions by an estimated 15% (28 tonnes), including:

  • Switching to renewable electricity (–13.4 t).
  • Paper reduction (–5.36 t).
  • Water efficiency measures (–4.0 t).
  • Insulation upgrades (–3.35 t).

These steps, combined with behaviour change and supplier collaboration, will help us accelerate progress toward our provisional Net Zero targets:

  • 50% reduction (95 tonnes) by 2030.
  • 100% reduction (Net Zero) by 2050.

Our Sustainability Objectives

We’ve identified three core environmental goals to guide our immediate focus:

1. Enhance Product Traceability and Compliance

Expand the scope of materials from sustainable forestry and prepare for future legislation such as the EUDR
and Digital Product Passport, ensuring all products and suppliers meet robust
sustainability standards.

 2. Reduce Packaging and Freight Impact

Minimise unnecessary packaging to reduce freight emissions and material waste without compromising product safety or appeal.

 3. Pursue a Paper-Free Future in Operations

Use our carbon-footprint data to offset key activities, reduce in-house paper use, and transition to more digital, efficient processes.

Opportunities and Challenges

We see sustainability not only as a challenge but as a powerful opportunity to:

  • Create standout, innovative products that delight consumers and align with evolving values.
  • Reduce shipping and production costs through more efficient design and sourcing.
  • Foster a workplace and employer brand that champions responsibility and long-term thinking.

We also recognise the challenges: cost pressures, supplier limitations, and varying levels of customer demand for sustainable alternatives. But with a united senior leadership team, passionate employees, and a forward-thinking mindset, we’re committed to leading change – not just reacting to it.

Looking Ahead

Sustainability will remain at the heart of our strategic growth.

By continuing to innovate, communicate, and collaborate, we’re building a future where fun and sustainability live side by side – and where our actions today make a measurable difference to tomorrow’s world.