Banner Ltd, the UK’s largest schoolwear and sportswear supplier, has released its 2021 sustainability report to coincide with World Environment Day and the UN Climate Change Conference currently taking place in Bonn. The report, titled ‘Leading the Way’, confirms significant progress towards greater sustainability in the schoolwear industry.

Standout achievements include the company maintaining its carbon neutrality for UK operations. Plus, ensuring over half of its core range is now available in eco fabrics. To date, Banner reports that 14.9 million plastic bottles have been recycled and 500 thousand plastic bags have been removed as a result of its efforts to reduce packaging and champion the use of recycled materials.

Speaking of the benefits to Banner and its customers is CEO, Glenn Leech.

“Leading the way is more than doing the right thing for Banner, it’s about helping our retailers be more sustainable too. The good news is that everyone benefits, from our overseas manufacturing partners to the local school children who wear our garments.”

The report includes a detailed review of Banner’s six sustainability pillars: Supply Chain; Environment; Products; Communities; Customers and People. Together, these amount to a holistic approach supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Actions this year included the planting of natural forestry in the UK; support for community charities; and the migration of two-thirds of the company’s car fleet to hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, Banner is targeting improvements to biodiversity and the natural environment.

The company is already a member of both Sedex and Better Cotton. It is also an active participant in the Climate Neutral Now programme, aiming to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. To help drive further progress, Banner is collaborating with Heriot Watt University to explore innovative ways of reducing packaging and minimising its environmental impacts wherever possible.

Sustainability Manager, Sarah Robins, comments; ‘We plan to go bigger, better and bolder in the future. Already, we are leading the way, but looking ahead we plan on following a path which sets the standard for others to follow.”

Banner’s Leading the Way sustainability report has been sent out to all its customers via email. It is also available to download here.