The Very Group sustainability score: 39/100
Better than 29% of E-commerce / Online Retail
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Limited independent evidence: only two independent sources cover this company. The score may change as more evidence appears.
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The Very Group sells electricals, clothing, home goods, toys and beauty online through Very in the UK and Ireland and Littlewoods in the UK, and offers customers credit through Very Pay; in its year to 28 June 2025 retail brought in £1,653.8 million and Very Finance £433.6 million. The Very Group Limited, formerly Shop Direct Limited, was incorporated in 2003.
More about The Very Group
Its accounts for the year to 27 June 2026 name Carlyle Group as its ultimate controlling party after a change of control in November 2025; before that it was the Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay Family Settlements. It had an average of 3,068 employees and £2,087.4 million revenue in its year to 28 June 2025.
Founded 2003Head office Liverpool, United KingdomStaff ~3,068 average (52 weeks to 28 June 2025)Revenue ~£2.09B revenue (£2,087.4M, 52 weeks to 28 June 2025)Website ↗
The Very Group's footprint was 1,552,068 tCO2e in FY2024, reported a year behind its accounts, down from 1,997,349 t in its FY21 baseline on a restated method; it puts part of the fall down to selling fewer units. Over 99% is Scope 3, including the own-brand and third-party products it sells. Its green electricity comes from REGO-backed supplier tariffs with no published split, and it still burns LPG and diesel. It has absolute targets to cut Scope 1 and 2 by 42% and Scope 3 by 25% by FY30, submitted to the SBTi but not yet validated. 60% of the timber in its own-brand furniture is FSC certified. It publishes no operational waste or water figures.
The Very Group scores 39/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified November 2026.
That places The Very Group joint 500th of 1,118 companies scored, and joint 22nd of 32 in E-commerce / Online Retail.
What is The Very Group doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 6/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Water Impact (3/10, 3/10).
Where The Very Group lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on waterMonitor its water use and take measures to reduce it.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling5/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water3/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets6/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is The Very Group's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is The Very Group's score based on?
9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
67% of them were published by The Very Group itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“brand products through 349 Tier 1 factories”
“We have switched to renewable gas across our own operations.”
“TVG has a target to reach 100% sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres by 2027 at the latest.”
“Currently, 60% of timber materials in our own brand furniture is FSC certified.”
“It uses few eco-friendly materials.”
“67.3 / 250”
“The deal will terminate the Barclay family’s 20 year ownership of the group.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does The Very Group compare with other e-commerce / online retail companies?
Where The Very Group sits among e-commerce / online retail peers.
Among the 32 major e-commerce / online retail brands we've scored, The Very Group is tied =22nd of 32, with 1 other.
Who scores higher in E-commerce / Online Retail?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above The Very Group.
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