We believe that corporate social responsibility is about making the highest quality products and making them in the right way. Sustainability and manufacturing excellence are deeply intertwined. Our high-quality operations enable us to produce superior products, protect our workers and the communities in which we operate, safeguard the environment, and reduce waste. We believe this commitment to responsible business practices will generate long-term returns for our shareholders.

Efficient Manufacturing and Environmental Protection

Our manufacturing processes and products are designed to maximize efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact of our operations, as well as those of our suppliers and customers.

  • Nearly all our raw materials purchases come from recycled sources. Our principal raw material, carbon steel wire rod, is produced from recycled steel scrap. By sourcing recycled materials, our suppliers avoid traditional iron ore mining and pelletizing, coke production and blast furnace operations, each of which has the potential for substantial negative environmental consequences.
  • We make extensive use of recycling opportunities to dispose of our own scrap and other byproducts generated by our manufacturing processes. We recycle over 19 million pounds of our own metal waste per year – enough to provide steel for nearly 8,000 vehicles. In addition, we cause over half a million gallons of spent hydrochloric acid each year to be beneficially reused in applications such as wastewater treatment, thereby avoiding disposal of the material as a hazardous waste.
  • In 2022, we commissioned an outside environmental firm to assess our generation of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. The study concluded that our total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions during our 2021 fiscal year were estimated to be 37.513 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Approximately 93% of these emissions were the result of purchased electricity (Scope 2) with only 7% resulting from our manufacturing activities (Scope 1). We conduct regular comprehensive energy audits at our facilities and continuously work to improve energy efficiency which reduces cost and GHG emissions generated by our utility suppliers.
  • Our welded wire reinforcement products typically require substantially fewer tons of steel than traditional methods of concrete reinforcement, such as rebar. We take pride in producing efficient solutions that help our customers achieve higher levels of performance and conserve resources in end-use applications.

Responsible Governance

Insteel, led by the Board of Directors and management team, remains committed to long-term growth and shareholder value creation. We believe that responsible governance, along with ongoing investment in our operations, our people, and our communities, is key to our future success.

  • Insteel’s Board of Directors is currently made up of seven directors, six of which are independent as defined by SEC guidelines. The Chair role is held by our CEO, H.O. Woltz III. Our lead director is W. Allen Rogers II, a partner in Peter Browning Partners, LLC, a provider of advisory services to public-company boards, and a former principal of Ewing Capital Partners, an investment banking firm which he co-founded. The Board seeks to ensure that its membership consists of directors who have experience and viewpoints that are relevant in the context of our highly cyclical and competitive business. In selecting directors, the Board reviews and considers many factors, including experience, integrity, leadership, diversity, ability to exercise sound judgment, existing time commitments and independence.
  • The Board of Directors has three committees: Audit, Executive Compensation, and Nominating and Governance. The Audit Committee is responsible for financial oversight and compliance and the Executive Compensation Committee determines compensation for executive officers and directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates and recommends nominees for Board membership, oversees our governance policies, and reviews and provides guidance with respect to Insteel’s strategy, programs and initiatives related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.
  • Our Board has overall responsibility for risk oversight. The Board has delegated oversight of certain types of risks to its committees. The Audit Committee oversees our policies and processes related to our financial statements and financial reporting, risks relating to our capital, credit and liquidity status, and risks related to related person transactions. The Executive Compensation Committee oversees risks related to our compensation programs and structure, including our ability to motivate and retain talented executives and other employees. The Nominating and Governance Committee oversees risks related to our governance structure and succession planning for Board membership. A comprehensive report on the risks facing Insteel - including those related to climate change – is prepared by management and reviewed by the Board on an ongoing basis.
  • We strive to conduct our business with integrity and in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws in the locations where we operate. Insteel has adopted a Code of Business Conduct that all directors, officers, and employees are expected to follow. It covers issues including ethical business conduct, conflicts of interest, gifts, and confidentiality. To ensure that our operations consistently function according to our high ethical standards, we provide a framework for reporting violations. In addition to our open-door policy, individuals wishing to report anonymously may call a toll-free Hotline, which is monitored by a third party.