Sarah Robins, Group Sustainability Manager at Banner, discusses the journey of becoming a Certified B Corporation.

 

Laura Turner: When did Banner’s sustainability journey begin?

Sarah Robins: We launched our sustainability programme some four years ago. At that time, with the existential threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, three things were very clear. Firstly, although the schoolwear sector has a focus on durable, long-lasting products (the opposite of ‘fast fashion’), it is still part of the textile industry, which is regarded as one of the most polluting sectors on the planet. As a responsible business, it was imperative we focus on how we could reduce our environmental footprint and polluting outputs.
Secondly, we recognise that our physical, mental and economic well-being is embedded in and dependent on nature, biodiversity and our climate, not separate from it. As the largest schoolwear supplier in the UK, we have a responsibility to do the right thing for the planet, people, the communities we serve, and the school children who wear our garments.
Lastly, while we had always held our suppliers to account with regard to ethical trading, we were a little behind on other elements of sustainability. We understood that we needed to take a holistic approach and set out to develop and deliver a new plan that we regard as the most ambitious sustainability strategy in the schoolwear sector, focusing on meeting the needs of our planet and people across six sustainability pillars.

LT: What are the six sustainability pillars?

SR: The pillars form the basis of our sustainability strategy, each with its own objective, measures and senior management champions. This framework ensures that every part of our business is engaged in the journey. Each pillar has led us on a journey of continuous improvement in terms of environmental and social impacts, as follows.
1. Supply chain: One hundred per cent of suppliers are members of Sedex, and we set SMETA 4-Pillar as the minimum global audit standard they are required to comply with. They must also complete Banner’s own detailed sustainability audit on an annual basis. We are using insights from our own audits to develop a set of best practice standards and measures relating to improving environmental, social and community impacts in close cooperation with suppliers.
2. Environment: We annually measure our full Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprint and ensure all emissions are offset through positive environmental and social impact programmes. We are a carbon neutral business and have implemented a 100% green energy strategy and 100% hybrid/EV strategy for company vehicles as well as an LED lighting programme. We have also made improvements to our packaging strategy to eliminate single-use plastics and achieve our goal of 100% recycled packaging by 2025.
3. Product: We have implemented a strategy ensuring products are sourced and manufactured using environmentally accredited materials, with a goal of 100% eco set for 2025. Seventy-five per cent of our garments are now made from sustainable materials – this is one of our proudest achievements. We also have certified Oeko-Tex products that are produced with less harm to humans and the environment and have become a member of Better Cotton, the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton.
4. Customer: We help and support customers on their sustainability journeys.
5. Community: We introduced a structured community volunteer programme, Gift of Time, which gives every employee a paid day to volunteer in their local community. Banner has launched its very own charity, the Banner Foundation, using its scale and influence to support charitable causes that directly benefit the lives of children and the environment. We believe Banner is the first schoolwear supplier to launch its own charity.
6. People: We have improved our colleague offer through engagement programmes, benefits, training and rewards, and have a committed team of people from across the business who help us embed sustainability into everything we do.

LT: What inspired Banner to apply for B Corp Certification?

SR: There are a few environmental certifications established in the market, but what set B Corp apart was that it covered both social and environmental impact. These reflected more accurately our priorities for people and the planet. At the beginning of our sustainability journey, we were researching the best accreditation that was globally recognised and provided a very robust assessment of a company’s social and environmental impact. In parallel, we wanted to also be transparent and accountable for our actions.
We understand that consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with the sustainability and social impact of brands. Recent research conducted by B Lab UK in 2023 shows that businesses need to do better. Seventy-seven per cent of people believe that businesses should have a legal responsibility to the planet and people alongside maximising profits. As a certified B Corp company, we know this builds credibility, trust and value for our business and demonstrates to the world that we meet high standards of environmental and social performance. That’s why we made a commitment at the highest level to become B Corp certified.

 

 

LT: What did the application process entail?

SR: We officially became B Corp certified in December 2023, but the journey that led us here actually began in 2019. From completing the assessment, which we started in July 2022, it took 18 months. Achieving B Corp requires a lot of work, firstly to embed sustainability in the business and then to get the level of maturity that enables you to clearly evidence what’s in place. The application itself involved looking at every detail and aspect of our operations, processes and procedures, whilst also answering over 200 questions across the key impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. To help us navigate this journey from assessment to evaluation, verification and certification, we engaged local B Corp B Leader, Andy Hawkins, from Business on Purpose. Before submitting our assessment for review, we amended our articles of association, which is a B Corp legal requirement, to show that we operate for the benefit of people, planet and community, not just profit. This is massive for Banner and shows how our investor, and indeed investors in general, are recognising their social and environmental responsibilities and see the benefit of committing to becoming a B Corp.
Firstly, we completed The B Impact Assessment and the Disclosure questionnaire for review. Before submitting this, you must achieve an 80-point benchmark. Then an evaluation analyst from B Lab UK looks over your entire assessment and company structure and sets further tasks. This takes approximately three months and then you move to the verification phase, where a B Lab Global verification analyst is assigned and will ask you to provide documentation to evidence your assessment responses. You also complete a review call with the analyst to discuss your verification report, and further documentation is required to evidence answers. If you still meet the verified 80-point threshold, you sign the agreement and are confirmed as a B Corp business. To meet the requirements for B Corp, you must publish your public profile on the B Corp global directory, including your score and impact report. You must re-certify every three years and use the B Impact Assessment and certification process as a tool for continuous improvement. You also have to produce an annual impact report.

LT: Did the assessment highlight any improvement opportunities?

SR: Yes, supply chain. It drove us to be more transparent and set clearer targets and measures, including setting specific energy, water and waste targets; improving and strengthening policies and developing new ones; better tracking and recording of eco product accreditations; consistent measurement of impacts year-on-year, and improving capturing people and community impact data.

 

 

LT: What does B Corp certification mean to Banner?

SR: It’s a huge milestone for us. As a business, it demonstrates to our stakeholders that we are serious about creating a positive change. We believe that using business as a force for good is the way forward and is also going to help us embed sustainability further into our work culture. We are only at the beginning of this journey, but we intend to grow in our role, creating a more sustainable and fairer future, balancing purpose and profit.

LT: What are Banner’s aspirations as a B Corp?

SR: B Corp is a movement, not a destination. We need to continuously improve and be a better business. Our future aspirations include addressing circularity and remediation; developing a biodiversity impact reduction strategy; improving our reporting, setting targets and measuring impact better; setting and delivering a net zero target reducing the reliance on offsetting emissions; developing and growing the Banner Foundation, supporting children from all backgrounds to prosper and thrive, and collaborating with other B Corps and businesses in our sector to work towards the same goal.
How fantastic would it be if we took collective action as a schoolwear industry on circularity and packaging and elevated our sector as a beacon of sustainability within the wider textile industry?

LT: Do you have any tips for other businesses that are interested in applying?

SR: B Lab has a wealth of resources designed to help you get started on your journey, including a full guide to the certification process and a free confidential BIA assessment tool. What gets measured, gets done – start by using the free BIA assessment tool as a framework to guide your sustainability strategy and future actions. When you are ready to submit, allow a contingency of four to five extra points, as points move up and down throughout the verification process.
Create a B Corp project team and don’t be a ‘lone ranger.’ Set up a team and involve colleagues, taking each impact area at a time. Together you can achieve so much, as demonstrated by our wonderful SER (Social, Environmental Responsibility) teams. We wouldn’t have made the progress that we have if it weren’t for their focus and commitment. Don’t underestimate the power of passionate, motivated colleagues.
Network and talk to other B Corps, they will be only too glad to share their experiences. Attend B Corp events too, from inspiring webinars to exhibitions, and look up UK B Corps on the B Corp global directory. Being able to join a rapidly growing community of like-minded businesses globally, all working to use business as a force for good, is really inspiring. We are just at the beginning of this exciting journey. To B or not to B? Now there’s a question. I hope you will start having this conversation with your colleagues…

For further information on Banner, please click here.