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St Eval Impact Report 2025 - 2026

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Impact Report 2025 - 2026

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Contents Leadership letter​

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Purpose statement

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Highlights

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People

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Environment

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Customers

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Community

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Governance

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Scope 1, 2 & 3

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Recertifying new B Corp standards

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A note from our Sustainability Officer

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Leadership letter

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

A letter from our CEO Some of my earliest memories are of St Eval taking shape at the end of my family’s garden in the early 1990s. The business was founded by my parents, Sarah and Tim Young-Jamieson, and built over more than 30 years by the many people who have joined us along the way. I remember the first building going up, the smell of wax and fragrance, and the family cat enjoying the warmth of a candle factory. Those who know the St Eval story will know that my father, Tim, one of our co-founders, passed away in a tragic accident in 1997 while travelling. It was a transformational moment for my family and for St Eval. Looking back, I remain deeply moved by how people rallied around us: customers, suppliers, friends and colleagues stepping in at a time of deep uncertainty. That period shaped much of what continues to guide St Eval today: a long-term mindset, a deep belief in community and a determination to build something that lasts. Our founder, Sarah, was committed to continuing the business she had started with my father, while raising three young children. Not long after, Ian Greaves was introduced through a mutual friend and joined St Eval as General Manager. Together, they continued the journey, growing the business year after year. Their resilience, vision and stewardship form a huge part of the foundation St Eval stands on today.

After a career in the film industry, I returned to St Eval in 2017, making candles, packing boxes, working in technical and later moving into leadership as I learned the business from the ground up. In January 2026, as part of a carefully planned transition, I was proud to step into the role of CEO. It is a responsibility I take seriously, not only because of my family’s connection to St Eval, but because of the brilliant team, loyal customers and strong sense of purpose that make the business what it is today. Ethical and sustainable business has been part of my family’s story for generations. It is a legacy I intend to carry forward and hope to pass on. For Sarah and I, protecting St Eval’s purpose, values and independence matters deeply. As CEO, those values continue to guide both me and the wider St Eval team: being sustainable in the choices we make, collaborative in how we work, creative in how we think and business-minded in how we grow. They help us honour what makes St Eval special, while remaining ambitious and continuing to grow responsibly, sustainably and with integrity. As the world continues to change at pace, our commitment remains steadfast: to create moments of joy, contemplation and reflection through the fragrances we make, inspired by the wild, elemental beauty of this North Atlantic island we call home. And to have a little fun along the way.

Harry Young-Jamieson, Chief Executive Officer

Here’s to another year of scent seeking and positive impact.

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Purpose Statement

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Purpose Statement Our purpose is to create environments that enrich people’s lives.​ We do this by crafting moments of joy, contemplation and reflection for our customers, ​ creating a great place to work for our people, and by making a positive contribution to ​the communities in which we operate.​ ​ Guided by a triple bottom line philosophy, we balance people, planet, and profit in our ​ decision-making, ensuring sustainable growth and a business built to last.​

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Highlights

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Harry appointed from Managing Director to CEO

Introduced Wellness and Absence policy Launched our first People Strategy

Hired our first Sustainability Officer Celebrated 30 years of St Eval

Successfully part of the Cornwall Wildlife Beaver Reintroduction programme

AI Committee established

Established our Green Space programme

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79 native trees planted in our orchard

Highlights 2025 to 2026 Launched Profit Share Scheme

Renovated our heritage building with a new roof installation part of the Shared Prosperity Funding grant

Guiding the creation of a toolkit to help candle makers identify and understand their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

84kW extra solar capacity added

8.5MWh saved with LED lighting upgrade

Increased training hours by 71%

Filmed Inside the Factory – Christmas special 2025 on the BBC​

Continued our sponsorship of the local heritage site of Castle an Dinas

Installed an additional 2 rocket bee hives

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B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

People Investing in our greatest asset - the St Eval team​

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People

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we said we’d do

What we actually did​

• Increase training hours

Meeting our commitments is the baseline, but this year, we went further. Alongside everything we said we would do, we also…

• Host a celebration for our people to celebrate 30 years of St Eval • Create a cross-company gardening volunteer group to grow food, skills, and connections on our land

• Introduced our first Wellness and Absence Management Policy​

• Rolled out cybersecurity training and simulation attacks​

• Continue listening, learning, and evolving - ensuring every voice is heard and valued

• Launched a new People Strategy with workshops on Culture and Empowerment​

• Refreshed appraisal and one-to-one formats and HR scheduling​

• Implement a learning and development strategy for our people • Increase volunteering hours​ • Host bi-annual creative days with our fractional teams​

1,895 training hours delivered in 2025–26 — a 71% increase on the previous year, reflecting our growing commitment to development across the business.

• Hosted our first Bring Your Child to Work day​

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external volunteering hours

additional wellbeing hours

completed, with our people giving their time to causes and communities beyond St Eval.

spent in our own green spaces and vegetable plots — a programme only launched in Q2, and already making a meaningful difference to how our people feel at work.

Totalling 132 volunteering hours. 10

• Introduced a Profit Share Scheme; celebrating and sharing business success with our team​

• Launched monthly Great Hub Gatherings with a locally sourced lunch for the team​ • Launched our first Belonging Survey on diversity and inclusion​

• Installed a staff vending machine at cost price​ • Mental Health First Aiders held their first forum creating space to support each other and discuss and plan initiatives for the wider team​ • Expanded the mental health team and started quarterly meetings to share best practices and further wellbeing concepts across the business​

• Introduced the Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) statement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy and AI Committee​ • Updated Compassionate Leave, Human Rights and Ethical Marketing policies​ • Launched monthly CEO newsletter for internal stakeholder engagement​ 11


People

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

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What we’re planning The next twelve months are about building on strong foundations and going deeper — enriching the experience of working at St Eval and creating more moments that connect, develop and genuinely support our people.​

Progress our People Strategy into year two, building on what we have learned and raising our ambitions further

4 Embed the learnings from our first Belonging Survey, ensuring the insights our people shared translate into meaningful action

2 Expand training and volunteering hours, growing the opportunities available to everyone across the business

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6 Continue and grow the Great Hub Gatherings and social events, bringing people together in ways that genuinely matter

Continue cross-functional workshops and culture committees, keeping the energy and collaboration that has brought so much value this year

1 Grow the Green Spaces programme, deepening its reach and impact across the team

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Host a dedicated week of internal events around World Mental Health Day, reaffirming our commitment to wellbeing at work

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People

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

30th Anniversary Celebrations​ In August 2025, we gathered beneath a marquee on the farm to celebrate 30 years of St Eval, welcoming colleagues past and present, suppliers, friends and family. ​ ​ Against a backdrop of fields, candlelight and live local music, we shared sustainable food, stories and memories from across three decades. Moments of reflection were woven throughout the evening, with photographs, artefacts and treasured memorabilia honouring the people, partnerships and passion that have shaped St Eval since 1994. ​ ​ It was a magical celebration of where we’ve come from, and the community that continues to light the way forward.​

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Looking back on our 30th anniversary celebration, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and wonder. It was a beautiful moment to pause and reflect on the journey we’ve shared, and on all the people who have helped shape St Eval along the way. Seeing past and present team members, suppliers and friends gathered together reminded me that St Eval has always been about people, care and a shared belief in what we do. Through every season of growth and change, we have stayed true to our purpose and the values that have guided us from the beginning. Inspired by nature, and with care for people and the planet at our heart, we have continued to grow while staying rooted in what matters most. I feel deeply grateful for everyone who has played a part in our story, and proud of what we have created together. St Eval is shaped every day by the passion, creativity and care of our amazing team. — Sarah Young - Jamieson, Founder & Creative Director 15


People

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Green Space programme​​ This year saw the launch of our first Green Space programme, inviting colleagues to spend time tending our vegetable patches, flora and fauna and growing produce alongside one another.​ ​ Nurtured with compost created from food waste on-site, the space brings new life to what might otherwise be discarded, while the harvest of fruits and vegetables is shared across the St Eval community.​ ​ More than a garden, this has become a place to connect with the land, with nature, and with each other. It offers moments of learning, friendship and quiet reflection, helping to cultivate a deeper sense of wellbeing and belonging across the business.​

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People

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

The Great Hub Gathering​ Since February, we’ve brought the business together in a new way. Once a month, colleagues from across every team come together in our social space to connect, share lunch, and simply enjoy each other’s company.​ Each gathering is anchored by a seasonal menu, thoughtfully prepared by Avo Catering, a local company championing sustainable produce. A small but meaningful nod to the world beyond our walls.​ The response has been wonderful. People are crossing the usual departmental lines, finding common ground, and building the kinds of connections that make a workplace feel like more than just a place to work.​

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B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Environment​ Measuring our footprint, deepening our roots​

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Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we said we’d do

What we actually did​

• Develop a company-wide energy strategy​

Meeting our commitments is the baseline, but this year, we went further. Alongside everything we said we would do, we also…

• Increase on-site energy generation and efficiency​ • Install new solar panels and 2 large industrial batteries

• Installed an additional 2 wild rocket beehives on the farmland​

• Reach 50% energy self-sufficiency

• Confirmed site as safe release point for rescued hedgehogs (Prickle and Paws charity)​

• Use hybrid or EVs for all car rentals​ • Plant 100 trees on the farm​

• Hosted the Cornwall Mammal Group for a harvest mouse nest count on our farmland​

• Create a gardening group for staff​

• Built and expanded vegetable plots for the team​

• Hire a Sustainability Officer

• Became a case study in the development of a carbon footprint measuring tool specifically designed for candle manufacturers in coordination with the European Candle Manufacturers Association. ​

• Complete Carbone4 carbon assessment • Deliver an annual wildlife audit

• Grew the Sustainability Committee with cross-functional members across the business​

• Conduct a full energy audit

• Prepared a resource monitoring data pack, annual waste, energy and water figures with supporting documentation​

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50%

fluorescent lightbulbs

energy selfsufficiency

upgraded to LED saving 8.5 MWh per year​

reached year-round; 75% during April-October peak​

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• Completed an environmental impact assessment covering our operations and value chain.

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Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we’re planning The next twelve months represent a significant step forward in how we understand, manage and reduce our impact on the natural world. From the land beneath our feet to the emissions across our supply chain, we are committed to going further with purpose and with care.

Define and publish our climate transition plan, setting out clearly how we intend to reach our longterm emissions goals 6

Add four more EV charging points on-site, powered by our own renewable energy and free to use for employees and guests Commission a biodiversity and habitat survey, documenting the full range of habitats present on-site and giving us a clear foundation for future nature recovery work Establish a waste baseline, so we can measure, manage and meaningfully reduce what we send to landfill Develop a hedgerow and vegetation management plan for our land, protecting and enhancing the wildlife corridors that run through it Request emissions data from our logistics partners, bringing Scope 3 reporting closer to the detail it deserves 24

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1

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Update our net emissions roadmap and complete our full carbon footprint assessment, giving us the clearest picture yet of where we stand

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Transition to a new 100% plant-based wax for our container candles

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Introduce geographic screening of our raw materials, understanding where everything we use comes from and what that means for people and planet

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Invite local Cubs and Beavers groups to make scarecrows for our vegetable patch because looking after the land should be joyful, and the next generation of nature lovers deserve a place in that story Take on higher-level stewardship of 11 the St Eval farm, managing the land with nature recovery at its heart and applying for the latest round of Sustainable Farming Incentive funding, investing in healthy soils, wildlife-friendly hedgerows and naturally managed pests 25


Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Our Journey to a Lower-Impact Future​ This year we were awarded a Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) grant, supporting our continued commitment to reduce our environmental impact and deepen the way we care for the land, energy and resources we depend on.​ ​ At St Eval we are guided by the triple bottom line, balancing people, planet and profit as we grow. It is a way of thinking that encourages us to look beyond output alone and focus on building a business that feels responsible, grounded and connected to the world around us.​ ​ Over the past 12 months, the business has grown significantly in both revenue and scale. What feels really encouraging is that this hasn’t meant using more energy. We are producing more while using less, thanks to the steady improvements we’ve made in how we work and make.​ ​

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The SPF grant has helped move this forward, supporting a detailed energy audit, creation of a live energy dashboard, and ongoing improvements in how we track and manage energy across our site. Alongside our investment in renewable energy, this is helping us understand our impact more clearly and make better-informed decisions day to day.​ ​

On sunny weekends, our site can now run fully off grid, and across the year, we are around 50% self sufficient in our energy needs, rising to around 75% on brighter days.​ ​ Together, these steps reflect how we are growing, not just in size, but in awareness, care and responsibility, as we continue working towards a lower impact future.​

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Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Plastic Story​ In 2023 we set ourselves an ambitious goal to move to zero percent plastic. It reflected a clear intention at the time and a commitment to reduce unnecessary packaging wherever possible.​ ​ As we have continued to grow and evolve, we have also taken a more practical look at how we balance sustainability, product safety and customer experience. In our bath and body range, we have now reintroduced plastic packaging where it is the most responsible option. In these products, glass is not suitable for safety reasons, particularly in bathroom environments, and recyclable plastic provides a safer and more practical alternative.​ ​ Glass bottles are 100% recyclable. However, the pumps are harder to recycle due to their inseparable parts and being made from mixed materials. We are working towards a recyclable alternative across this collection. ​ We remain open about this journey, focusing on better materials, lower impact, and honest progress over time.​

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Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Wildlife in Flight​ This year, we were delighted to welcome the Cornwall County Recorder for Birds and the Cornwall Bird Watching and Protection Club for a guided walk across our lands. Their expert eyes identified a remarkable range of species, including several of high conservation importance.

Red List (highest conservation priority)​

Amber List (of concern)​

Green List (not currently threatened)​

Yellow hammer​ Swift​ Skylark

Sedge Warbler​ Swallow​ Meadow Pipit

Buzzard​ Blue Tit​ Great Tit​ Wren​ Blackbird​ Goldfinch​ Chaffinch​ Woodpigeon

The presence of so many red and amber-listed species is a real testament to the farm’s existing habitat quality. The team was particularly excited to see what lies ahead as we refocus the farm.​ 30

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Environment

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Beaver Reintroduction at Helman Tor​ Bringing Beavers Back to Cornwall​ In 2023, St Eval entered into a partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust to help make possible something that had never been done before in England: the licensed reintroduction of wild beavers to the Cornish countryside.​ The Trust was ready to begin the application process, but faced a critical barrier. Without a guaranteed outcome, no grant-making body would fund the dedicated officer needed to drive it forward. St Eval stepped in providing the funding that allowed the Trust to appoint its first-ever Beaver Officer.​ That appointment changed everything. Lauren Jasper joined the Trust in 2023 and, alongside the Trust’s ecologist, spent two years in the field, more than 30 meetings and site visits with landowners, farmers, infrastructure managers and local communities across the Par and Fowey catchment. The work was patient, painstaking, and essential.​ 32

It paid off in historic fashion. In February 2026, one of the first formally licensed wild beaver releases in England took place at Helman Tor in Cornwall. A landmark moment for conservation that paves the way for future reintroductions across the country. Because St Eval was willing to back the project at its point of highest uncertainty, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s application was so far ahead of others that what began as a local ambition became a national milestone.​ The beavers themselves have wasted no time. Those that arrived ahead of the licensed release have already created a six-acre wetland at Helman Tor, supporting a rich and growing variety of wildlife. Over the next ten years, Cornwall Wildlife Trust plans to release up to fifteen pairs into the Par and Fowey catchment. A project that sits at the heart of Tor to Shore, the Trust’s largest and most ambitious nature recovery initiative to date, supported by a £3.3 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant towards a £5 million programme.​

None of it would have reached this point without the groundwork the beaver reintroduction made possible.​ For us, this project is a practical expression of what B Corp certification means taking a long view, backing things that matter, and being willing to act when conventional funding cannot. The beavers are back in Cornwall. We are proud to have played a small part in making that happen.

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Projects like this only happen when people are willing to believe in a vision before the outcome is certain. St Eval’s support came at a time when the path to releasing wild beavers in Cornwall was far from guaranteed. That belief and trust enabled us to carry out the preparation needed to reach this moment. The return of beavers to Helman Tor is not just a milestone for conservation, it is a powerful example of what can be achieved when businesses and conservation organisations work together with ambition and shared purpose. — Cheryl Marriot, Director of People and Nature 33


B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Customers Creating the St Eval experience from Cornwall to homes across the country​

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Customers

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we said we’d do

What we actually did​

• Host an Autumn and Winter Showcase – Inviting Cornish stockists to visit our new ranges and have a tour of the factory

Meeting our commitments is the baseline, but this year, we went further. Alongside everything we said we would do, we also…

• Introduce a consumer loyalty program

• Created new Head of Sales and Sales Operations Executive roles to support our sustainable growth

• Enhance customer education through behind-the-scenes content and impact stories

• Developed our fragrance map, which centres our brand vision, portfolio development, communications and customer engagement on the landscape surrounding our North Cornwall home​

• Educate and inspire customers on repurposing our vessels • Expanding internationally, allowing more customers to experience St Eval​

• Tailored annual stockist survey on independent retailers, with a view to further refining for key accounts

• Introduce an enhanced customer feedback loop​​

• Invested in improvements to our e-commerce stores, enhancing the user journey and removing friction.

• Update both DTC and B2B websites for improved user experience

• Partnered with The Lost Garden of Heligan to begin trialling in-store merchandising • Launched hand care in a selection of our hero fragrances • Invested in studio and landscape photography to bring our fragrances and portfolio to life​ • Engage a cohort of key consumers and customers in our NPD testing phase. • Invested in the visual layout and navigation of our trade and consumer websites, enhancing product pages, imagery and storytelling to elevate the customer experience Fragrance map snippet

• Continuously improving our wax blend to deliver great performance and the best customer experience. 37


Customers

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

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What we’re planning The next twelve months are about deepening the connections that matter most, with the consumers who welcome St Eval into their homes, and the independent partners who help bring our products to the world. Fragrance is at the heart of everything, and this year we will bring that vision to life more boldly than ever.

Elevate our trade show presence, taking our trade partners on a fragrance journey that brings the soul of St Eval to life in every interaction

1 Lead with fragrance across everything we do, guided by the vision of our fragrance map to ensure scent remains the heart of the St Eval experience

2 Expand our personal care portfolio with the addition of hand cream, bath & shower gel and body lotion, extending the world of St Eval beyond the candle

5 Develop a dedicated email strategy for our independent stockists one that inspires, equips and educates, giving them everything they need to champion our products with confidence

6 3 Launch a DTC loyalty programme, creating a more meaningful and rewarding relationship with the St Eval fans who choose us again and again

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Explore locations for a St Eval flagship store, taking the next step towards a physical space that truly represents who we are and what we stand for

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Customers

Consumer stories Candles have a way of becoming part of the rhythm of everyday life and hearing how ours do exactly that never gets old. From a favourite scent lit every evening to the perfect gift that landed just right, our customers’ stories are a constant reminder of why we do what we do.​ ​ Fragrance is at the heart of that connection. It is one of our most instinctive senses able to transport us in an instant, to evoke a place, a season, a feeling we cannot quite put into words. At St Eval, we have always drawn our inspiration from the natural world around us; the salt air off the Cornish coast, the warmth of sun-dried herbs, the freshness of an open landscape after rain. These are the scents we bring indoors, crafted with care into every candle we make.​ ​ That is our purpose, to enrich everyday life by bringing a little more of the natural world into the home. And when our customers tell us a fragrance has become their morning ritual, their evening winddown, their go-to gift for someone they love, we know that connection is real.​

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B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

“I love St Eval candles and am absolutely DELIGHTED that they have brought back their gorgeous handwashes. Bergamot and Nettle is a lovely scent (I’m hoping they’ll bring this one back in the handwashes too). My other favourite is Bay and Rosemary and also Inspiritus. These are just my favourites but they are all such lovely scents.”

“It has been a favourite fragrance since I bought years ago and always try and have a candle of that fragrance in my home at all times. Love it!”

“St Eval are a go to brand for me. They are reliable with beautiful, quality products that are reasonably priced. They have the highest standards of customer service.”

“I loved this scent from the very 1st time I bought it possibly 7/8 years ago. It never fails to lift me every time I smell it. It’s fab in the kitchen as it gets rid of cooking smells. At the front door it greets and welcomes you, in the lounge it’s subtle enough to live with over a period of hours. I love this product!”

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Customers

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Our Independent Stockists​ Our independent retailers are the heartland of St Eval, and have been from the very beginning. It is through their stores, their shelves and their relationships with their own customers that St Eval finds its way into homes across the country and beyond.​ These are the businesses that took a chance on a candle brand from the Cornish clifftops and helped us grow into something far greater than we could have reached alone. They are not just stockists, they are partners, advocates, and an essential part of how our purpose comes to life in the world.​ When a customer walks into an independent shop and discovers St Eval for the first time, drawn in by a scent, a beautiful display, a recommendation from someone who genuinely knows the product. That moment of connection is made possible by the people who chose to bring us into their space. They carry the magic of what we make and share it in a way that no algorithm ever could.​

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Our independents have enabled so much of our growth and extended our reach into communities we could never have found on our own. They always have been, and always will be, at the heart of St Eval, and we are committed to working together to bring our story to life in new and exciting ways.

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Customers

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

A partnership in bloom Ahead of their busy summer period last August, our Sales and Brand team worked closely with The Lost Gardens of Heligan, a longstanding St Eval stockist, to prepare and elevate their retail space. We partnered together to review space, product range and visual merchandising for Heligan to become a destination for a wider selection of products from the St Eval collection. ​ We shaped a space designed to feel natural, wild and rooted in place, reflecting St Eval and the spirit of Heligan itself. We supported with merchandising stands, a thoughtful product selection across key fragrances and products, and a gentle curation of the gift shop layout so everything felt considered and welcoming. Floral touches, point of sale and window details brought the space to life, echoing both brands in a way that felt effortless and true.​ ​ The result was a truly special season together, and Heligan’s strongest year with us to date. More than sales, it deepened a relationship built on trust, creativity and a shared love of beautiful, meaningful spaces.​

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B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Community Connecting with the places and people that matter most​

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Community

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we said we’d do

What we actually did​

• Continue seconds donations

Meeting our commitments is the baseline but this year, we went further. Alongside everything we said we would do, we also…

• Continue to enhance our company’s monthly meetings with guest speakers • A further increase in our team volunteering hours, and expanding opportunities • Continue to develop strong community relationships • Maintain our support to Ukraine with surplus wax • Donate 1% of turnover to charity​ • Investigating the 1% for the planet initiative​ • Launch of a new charity partnership​​ • Build on our food bank donations​

• Became the first Heritage Guardian of Castle an Dinas (Cornwall Heritage Trust), mid-2025​

• Increased our local donations budget by 10%, supporting meaningful causes in our local community

• Increased career fair attendance, • Sponsored Best Beach Performer supporting young people in Cornwall​ category for RSPCA Cornwall, Paws on the Beach event, which raised £2,931 • Hosted education visits from 5 Cornish to restore their dog swimming pool colleges and universities​ • Sponsored Young & Talented Cornwall • Trevisker Primary students helped November 2025, including funding mulch our new orchard; Year 5s toured children’s transport​ with our engineering team​ • Donated candle seconds to 17 charities • Our CEO, Harry, continued chairing across 2025-26: schools, hospices, the Cornwall Manufacturing Group hospitals and beyond​ • Partnerships across the year: Waste • Hosted the charity Georgia’s Voice for Waves, Exploding Words, Outside as a guest speaker in our monthly Tribe, Man Down, Mermaid Centre​ company meeting, donating £300 to their match fund

• Concluded 3-year Cornwall Wildlife Trust partnership with successful • Hosted our first B Local event with a wild beaver reintroduction​ factory tour for local B Corp businesses​ • Donated to Kernow Conservation • Exhibited at Cornwall Christmas Fair and volunteered during their water at the Eden Project - 10% of sales vole release donated to the Cornwall Community 48

Foundation

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Community

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we’re planning

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Renew our Castle an Dinas sponsorship for a second year, continuing our commitment to protecting this ancient landscape and the communities and wildlife it supports

Continue our Trussell Trust food bank partnership, standing alongside those working to ensure no one in our community goes without

The next twelve months are about going further with the relationships and partnerships that connect St Eval to the communities around us. From the local organisations we support to the wider network of businesses we help to inspire. Rooted in Cornwall, and reaching further every year.

Host another B Local event, championing sustainable businesses across the South West and strengthening the network of those doing business as a force for good 5 Increase work experience placements and expand our career fair presence across Cornwall, opening doors for the next generation and investing in the future of our local workforce

1 Expand our Candle Seconds donation programme, increasing the reach and impact of products finding a second purpose in the hands of those who need them most

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Further our relationship with Newquay Orchard CIC, continuing to welcome them to St Eval, hosting tours and deepening a partnership rooted in shared values

Host an AI event as part of the Cornwall Manufacturing Group series, bringing together local businesses to explore what emerging technology means for the way we work

Continue the CEO’s role chairing the Cornwall Manufacturing Group, using our voice to shape the future of manufacturing in the region

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Community

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Caring for a Place Close to Home​ Just a few minutes from our candle factory stands Castle an Dinas, one of Cornwall’s most significant Iron Age hillforts and a place rich in history, wildlife and community connection.​ ​ In 2025, we became the site’s first Heritage Guardian, supporting the Cornwall Heritage Trust in bringing this remarkable landscape to life for more people. Over the past year, the partnership has helped create opportunities for educational visits, archaeology festivals, heritage workshops, guided walks and nature volunteering sessions, inviting people of all ages to explore, learn and connect.​ ​ The impact reaches far beyond the hillfort itself. From protecting native species and restoring habitats to supporting mental wellbeing, community outreach and volunteering opportunities, the project demonstrates the powerful role that nature, heritage and shared experiences can play in bringing people together.​ ​

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As a business deeply rooted in Cornwall, we are proud to support a place that celebrates the stories, landscapes and communities that make this corner of the world so special.​

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St Eval’s role as Heritage Guardian has had a powerful impact on Castle an Dinas. Their support helps us safeguard this ancient hillfort, protect vital wildlife habitats, improve access for visitors, and bring the site’s remarkable stories to life. Thanks to their commitment, we’re able to care for this landscape in a way that ensures it can be enjoyed for generations to come. We’re hugely grateful for their support. — Cathy Woolcock, CEO Cornwall Heritage Trust

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Community

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Sharing a Little Light​ Not every candle we make is destined for our shelves. Some may carry a small imperfection, a dented tin, a mislabelled fragrance, or another detail that falls short of our standards, while remaining perfectly safe and beautiful to enjoy. ​ ​ Through our Candle Seconds initiative, these candles find a new home with charities and community organisations, both locally and further afield. They are gifted to volunteers, supporters, carers and community members, offering a simple moment of warmth and appreciation to those making a difference in the lives of others. ​ ​ For us, it’s a meaningful way to reduce waste while extending the reach of our craft.

Value of

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£13,208

Gifted

903

Total of

across 12 months

products

charities

17

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B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Governance Transparent, responsible and raising the bar​

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Governance

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we said we’d do

What we actually did​

• Review impact performance at every board meeting​

Meeting our commitments is the baseline but this year, we went further. Alongside everything we said we would do, we also…

• Update our supplier form to share with service providers • Move to the new recyclable and assessment methodology tool for waste packaging regulations • Began an audit of our suppliers to seek understanding on Smeta, Sedex, BSCI, Eco Vardis and B Corp accreditation • Implement metrics and standards to measure and report on our social and environmental performance​

• Expanded committees to include a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) committee​

• Continued in-house lab testing, aligned with British Candle Federation (BCF) and ECMA candle safety standards​

• Grew all committees (Health & Safety, Sustainability, Community, AI) with cross-functional members​

• Root Labels (Launceston) - now our biggest B Corp supplier spend

• Implemented an AI Policy and company-wide AI workshop​

• Maintained a close relationship with Trading Standards for candle quality and safety​

• AI decision-making framework: balancing people, planet and profit (triple bottom line)​

• Developed board meetings further with internal management guest speakers for Learning & Development​

• Begun Scope 1, 2 & 3 carbon reporting work with the European Candle Manufacturers Association (ECMA) support. Being the first case study • Rolled out supplier materiality to help develop and refine the questionnaire for the first time learning reporting guidelines for the candle about and from our supply chain​ manufacturing industry • Improved cybersecurity - new guide, company-wide training and simulation attacks​

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Governance

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

What we’re planning

4 Begin Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon reporting, taking the next step towards a full and transparent picture of our emissions across the entire business

The next twelve months are about embedding stronger structures and clearer evidence of how we govern our impact. Ensuring that our commitment to people, planet and business is not just felt, but measurable, transparent and built to last. 2

1 Implement metrics to measure social and environmental performance, moving from intention to accountability with data that tracks our progress over time

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Establish quarterly meeting minutes to evidence regular and meaningful discussion of social, environmental and stakeholder governance matters. Creating a clear record of how these conversations shape our decisions

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5 Continue internal supplier diligence, maintaining the standards we hold ourselves to across the supply chain and strengthening the relationships built on shared values

Transition to the new RAM packaging assessment methodology, ensuring our approach to packaging sustainability reflects the most current and rigorous standards available

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Governance

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

“

It’s rewarding to help ensure our charity budget is guided by our shared values and directed where it can make the biggest difference, particularly within local communities. It’s also about the time we give, whether that’s volunteering ourselves or welcoming groups to St Eval. Being involved in selecting the charities and causes St Eval supports makes it especially meaningful, knowing our decisions and time invested help organisations doing such important work.

St Eval Committees​ At St Eval, our committees are small groups of colleagues who come together to focus on the areas that matter most to how we work and grow.​ ​ We have four key committees: Sustainability, Health and Safety, Community, and AI. Each one brings together people from across the business to share ideas, raise challenges, and help shape decisions in a more thoughtful and collaborative way.​ ​ These groups exist to make sure everyone has a voice in how we improve, whether that is reducing our environmental impact, keeping people safe, strengthening our connection with the community, or exploring how new technology can support us.​ ​ For those involved, the committees offer a chance to step outside of day-to-day roles and contribute to something broader. They create space for fresh thinking, shared responsibility and a stronger sense of ownership across the business.​ ​ Each committee meets once a quarter, with actions and ideas carried forward into ongoing work throughout the year.​

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— Abi, Brand Executive

“

The Health and Safety Committee has helped strengthen our safety culture by identifying risks, encouraging open communication and supporting initiatives that enhance workplace safety. The wellbeing of colleagues remains at the heart of decision-making.” — Nicky, Regulatory Affairs Officer

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Scope 1, 2 & 3

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Scope 1, 2 & 3 – Our Carbon Reporting Journey

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Scope 1

Scope 2

Scope 3

Direct emissions​

Indirect emissions​

Value chain​

From the vehicles we drive to the energy we use on-site, we take direct ownership of our operational emissions. Half of our fleet is electric, and we are actively reviewing our on-site processes to reduce our footprint further because the landscapes that inspire us are worth protecting.​

The electricity and heat we purchase account for a significant share of our emissions, but this is where our investment in solar and on-site battery storage is making the greatest difference. We are generating more renewable energy than ever before, reducing our reliance on the grid and our impact on the planet.​

Beyond our own walls, the largest share of our emissions lies in our wider supply chain, From the goods we purchase to business travel, product use and end-of-life impact, these are the most complex emissions to measure but often the most important. We have begun that work in partnership with the European Candle Manufacturers Association, taking an industry-wide approach to a challenge none of us can solve alone.​ 65


Recertifying as a B Corp

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

Recertifying as a B Corp​ This year, we are recertifying as a B Corp under a new and more rigorous set of standards — and for us, it feels like a natural evolution of what B Corp represents. The updated framework moves away from a single overall score towards a requirementsbased approach, raising the bar for what certification truly means.​ The shift moves the emphasis from points to progress, and from scoring to how impact is embedded across everyday decisions.

Key changes to the framework include:​ • No overall score means that certification is now based on meeting mandatory performance requirements rather than reaching a point threshold​ • Seven Impact Topics replace the previous framework, with a stronger focus on climate, human rights, and social equity​

For us, recertification is a structured review of the work we are already doing, the changes we have made, and the systems we have put in place. It also helps us identify where there is still room to improve, keeping us accountable and moving forward with purpose for people, planet and business.

• Independent third-party verification replaces B Lab self-assessment • A phased requirements structure gives businesses time to build towards full compliance.

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Sustainability Officer

B Corp Impact Report 2025 - 2026

A note from our Sustainability Officer​ This Impact Report covers the start of a newly created role at St Eval, and in many ways, it has been a time for building foundations. Not always the stuff that makes headlines, but the kind of groundwork that means we can do this properly and keep doing it well. That feels important. The big one for us right now is B Corp recertification. The standards have been significantly updated, and we are taking that seriously across the whole business. It is genuinely a team effort, and I am really proud of how everyone has got behind it. We have also started mapping our Scope 3 emissions for the first time, which is us looking honestly at the bigger picture of our environmental footprint. It is early days, but it feels like the right thing to do.

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And then there are the moments that remind you why this work matters. Watching beavers released to Helman Tor as the culmination of our three-year partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The installation of additional solar panels and battery storage at the end of last year, which means we now have close to 75% of our site roof space covered. And the planting of our own heritage orchard, a mix of apple, plum, cherry, chestnut, hazel and alder, a reminder that some of the best things take time. There is plenty still to do; this is just the start, but I am genuinely excited about where we are heading.

Jo – Sustainability Officer, St Eval​

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Scent seekers & candlemakers of Cornwall

@stevalcandles | www.st-eval.com 70


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