Better Health for All

DFS's core products, upholstered furniture, have no significant positive or negative health impact. The company implements rigorous checks and holds independent certification from the Furniture Industry Research Association for fire safety regulations (FFFSR).

Their Code of Practice details compliance with UK and EU REACH regulations, RoHS hazardous substances values (e.g., Cadmium 0.01%, Lead 0.1%), and formaldehyde limits (<0.062mg/m3 for furniture). These measures are designed to minimize risks and ensure product safety, thereby preventing negative health effects from their offerings. As a furniture company, its business model does not involve direct health-related products or services, making most other health-specific KPIs not applicable.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

DFS Furniture PLC offers Interest Free Credit (IFC) to customers, including on 48-month terms, as a key feature in the UK upholstery market

. The company does not derive revenue from high-cost financial products or penalty fees. DFS operates with limited permission to offer consumer finance granted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) . It maintains rigorous oversight, robust sales principles, and compliance frameworks across all brands . All activities are under ongoing review to ensure good customer outcomes, particularly following the introduction of the Consumer Duty . The Intelligent Lending Platform (ILP) enables fully digitised processing, offering customers credit that is right for them .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

DFS Furniture PLC reported a voluntary colleague turnover rate of 15% in FY25.

In 2024, the company conducted audits of 48 Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers across the UK, Europe, and the Far East, spending over 250 days on these audits, and identified no instances of unethical practices.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

DFS Furniture PLC reports that 93% of its timber is FSC and PEFC-certified

, and all leather used in upholstery was sourced from LWG-certified supply chains by December 2024. The company conducts annual on-site audits for 100% of its goods for resale suppliers, including 48 Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in FY24, with no instances of unethical practices identified. For non-conformities, suppliers are typically given two weeks (14 days) to resolve issues and provide evidence. All suppliers are contractually required to sign DFS's Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and Supplier Code of Practice , with non-compliance potentially leading to contract termination. Key materials such as timber, leather, animal-derived materials, cotton, feathers, down, and chemicals are stated to be fully traceable to their origin (forest, farm, or mill).

Honest & Fair Business

The company had one financial restatement in FY25 for a £4.7 million fair value lease adjustment that should have been recorded in previous periods but was deemed immaterial at the time.

A comprehensive, group-wide Whistleblowing Policy, last modified in September 2025, is in place, offering an independently provided anonymous hotline and external charity contact, with retaliation strictly prohibited. Annual mandatory training on the Group Code of Conduct is provided to all colleagues, and bespoke training to leadership and procurement roles, though the program's effectiveness is not publicly measured. The company has an Anti-Bribery Policy, a Corporate Criminal Offence Policy with a zero-tolerance approach to tax evasion, and a Group Code of Conduct. These are supported by annual mandatory training for all colleagues and targeted training for high-risk roles like procurement and leadership. Extensive third-party verification of ethical and compliance claims is conducted, including annual ethical audits (SMETA, Ardea International, TRG) for all finished goods suppliers and top 250 GNFR suppliers. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are externally assured by DNV Business Assurance UK Services Ltd, and all timber and leather value chains are audited and risk assessed by Track Record Global. The Group has ISO 14001 accreditation, and suppliers hold certifications such as OEKO-TEX STeP for textile mills, Leather Working Group for tanneries, and FSC®/PEFC** accreditation for timber sourcing.

Kind to Animals

DFS ensures animal welfare in its supply chain through annual audits of all supplying partners against its Sustainable Sourcing Policy and Code of Practice.

This policy requires all leather to be a by-product of the meat industry, not from aborted, live, or endangered species, with full traceability from product to animal origin. All feather and down material must also be a by-product of the meat industry and certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) or equivalent. DFS expects all leather wet blue/curer and tanneries/finishers to be Leather Working Group (LWG) certified by December 2024. For high-risk supply chains, DFS will cease trading with suppliers if issues persist. Furthermore, the company has a clear policy stating that no products in the manufacturing of materials or finished goods should be tested on animals, resulting in zero animals used in testing.

No War, No Weapons

DFS Group has a policy to cease trade with suppliers whose supply chains and products are rated as "Specified Risk" or "High Risk" after a period set by the Group.

The Responsible and Sustainable Business Committee, a committee of the Board of Directors, approves relevant policies like the Timber and Leather Policies , and its mandate explicitly excludes defense business. The company conducts annual impact assessments with manufacturing partners and annual risk assessments for illegally harvested timber. Its Sustainable Sourcing Policy aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights , and it commits to sourcing timber from supply chains that do not contribute to deforestation or violate human rights. DFS Group will not accept timber from regions where deforestation issues have been identified. The company's core business is furniture retail, and there is no evidence of involvement in arms, dual-use technology, or controversial weapons.

Planet-Friendly Business

DFS Furniture PLC's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions for FY24 were 216,000 tCO2e.

Scope 3 emissions decreased by 46% last year, and Scope 1 emissions saw over a 14% reduction compared to the FY19 baseline. The company's Net Zero goal and near-term targets were approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) in November 2024. , with a commitment to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 55% by FY2033 and Scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by FY2050. In FY24, 83% of all timber used in products was sustainably sourced (certified FSC & PEFC). , supported by full transparency and traceability of higher risk material value chains and ongoing due diligence audits. For textiles, 3.88% of all new textiles contained recycled content in FY24. The company complied with Financial Conduct Authority listing rules by providing climate-related financial disclosures consistent with all TCFD recommendations. , and climate scenario analysis was conducted in 2022. Following a consultation, DFS supported its remaining workforce through a comprehensive outplacement service and retained 44 colleagues.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

DFS Furniture PLC has established at least three formal charity partnerships, including BBC Children in Need, Andy's Man Club, and Home-Start UK.

The company's operations, primarily in furniture manufacturing and retail across the UK and Republic of Ireland, do not involve activities that necessitate Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes or specific cultural impact assessment protocols. There are no reported cultural appropriation incidents or disruptions to cultural or heritage sites. The company's charitable giving is general, with up to 1% of profit before tax donated to various causes, but not specifically to cultural heritage organizations. Furthermore, the social license to operate concept and a specific cultural incident response framework are not applicable to its business model.

Safe & Smart Tech

The company demonstrates strong practices in vulnerability management, having upgraded to industry-leading tools for improved remediation

and conducting routine third-party penetration testing. A new program for continuous testing throughout the year is also being launched. Security testing coverage is comprehensive, with annual penetration tests covering web applications, physical security, and remote access , complemented by plans for continuous testing. The company has a very strong regulatory compliance program, taking all necessary steps to comply with GDPR, DPA 2018 , and other relevant regulations, supported by robust policies , annual data protection training for all colleagues , and rigorous oversight for FCA compliance. There are no documented incidents of unauthorized data use , and preventative measures include industry-leading managed detection, response, and SOC services , along with enhanced controls against ransomware attacks. Standard practices are observed for encryption, with transaction-related downloads being encrypted. User data control is industry-standard, offering opt-out options for marketing and rights to access, correct, and delete data. Authentication security is also industry-standard, with improved user password strength and complexity , but no mention of multi-factor authentication. Data minimization practices are varied, with retention periods ranging from 30 days for abandoned baskets to 5 years for customer service survey data shared with third parties.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

DFS diverted 97% of its total waste (9429 tonnes) from landfill in FY25, with 59% recycled and 38% converted to energy.

All packaging used on DFS sofas is recycled. Currently, 4% of new textiles contain recycled content. The company targets 50% recycled content in all plastic packaging by June 2026 (currently 14%) and 20% recycled content in all new textiles by 2027. DFS is guided by "The Sofa Cycle" framework, launched in 2020, to become a business built around the circular economy. Waste reduction initiatives include the Sofa Cycle framework, a new waste program at Sofa Delivery Company to improve landfill avoidance, a Waste & Packaging Working Group, and working with suppliers to use more sustainable packaging, such as swapping plastic for cardboard. Environmental management policies and procedures are in place regarding hazardous materials, and supply chain actors must manage chemicals and waste responsibly. DFS has set quantitative targets, including 100% sustainably sourced timber (FSC & PEFC certified) in all products by December 2025 (currently 93%) and 100% LWG certified leather by December 2025 (achieved Dec 2024). Comprehensive requirements for all tier-1 suppliers include mandatory SMETA certification, disclosure of supply chain details, responsible management of chemicals and waste, proper wastewater disposal, and aiming to reduce packaging content. All timber must come from certified supply chains, and all hides from LWG certified tanneries. All packaging includes disposal and safety information, and DFS facilitates the collection and responsible reuse of old sofa materials through its official bulky waste removal partner, Clearabee.