A Chadderton-based consumer firm has set out its ambitions to be greener and boost its equal opportunities policies for the benefits of its staff.  

Ultimate Products, situated at Manor Mill on Victoria Street, which owns brands such as household industry brands Salter and Beldray, has set out a number of goals in a fresh report. 

In its Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy (ESG) report, the business aims to produce 50 per cent less plastic packaging by 2025 compared to 2019.

Recycling targets among the remaining packaging have been set too.

It has set itself net zero targets to hit by 2040 and 2050 too.

As well as helping the environment, the company hopes 40 per cent of the board will be female by 2025 and 20 per cent of the firm's UK workforce will be made of of people from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2030.

The business also wants 60 per cent of of its UK workfoce to be recruited from the "local community", increasing the share from 47.2 per cent.

Ultimate Products chief executive Simon Showman said: “Striving to do the right thing has always been core to everything that Ultimate Products does.

"As the business continues to grow, we are acutely aware that our efforts and ambitions should be underpinned by a clear sense of responsibility and purpose.

"We have therefore developed a comprehensive ESG strategy which covers everything from our purpose of developing products for the home, educating consumers, investing in our colleagues, and supporting those that need it most within our local communities.

“We also recognise that we have an important role to play in helping our retail partners to achieve their own ESG ambitions.

"We are therefore working to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support them in going that extra mile, while continuing to provide them with an outstanding service.

"At Ultimate Products, we all believe in playing our part to make a positive impact on the world, and we are determined to become an even more sustainable and responsible business.”

All cost increases resulting from the report findings will be considered before being implemented.

Many of the costs would be offset against savings made from the firm's other "environmental focus areas".