Corporate Social Responsibility
“Our CSR initiatives are part of our heritage. We have always considered the legacy that our business might leave and recognised that our customers face the same concerns.
As we all grow in understanding of the connectedness of our world and the pressures that we are placing on ecosystems and communities, so grows the urgency to adjust the way that we think, live and work.
We’ve been in business for a very long time, maintaining our independence and belief in the core values that set us apart. Our CSR initiatives have been founded and continue to evolve through proactive collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders. They are considered, robust and lasting solutions that deliver positive benefits, now and for the future.”
Michael Edmonds
Managing Director
Our strategy and aims
Our corporate social responsibility strategy is built around delivering sustainable productivity services that create social, environmental, and economic value for everyone we work with. We take a holistic, integrated approach, focusing on long-term responsibility through meaningful engagement with our people, customers, suppliers, partners, and the wider community. We are committed to acting ethically, applying due diligence across our operations, and maintaining accountability and transparency in everything we do. By translating our principles into practical action, taking responsibility for our decisions, and learning openly from mistakes, we aim to build trust, demonstrate integrity, and make a positive contribution wherever we operate.
Our CSR heritage
Our commitment to responsible business is rooted in a long tradition of good conduct. When our founder, George Henry Bates, began trading in the 1930s, the language of sustainability was very different, but the principle of doing the right thing has always guided our decisions. We were the first independent business in our sector to achieve ISO 14001 Environmental Management and have continued to invest in initiatives that reduce environmental impact, including intelligent ordering to lower CO₂ emissions and the launch of Harvest, the first fairtrade office paper made from agricultural waste straw. Through our Zero Waste and Green Initiative programmes, and our support of charities such as Wasps Legends, we continue to improve environmental outcomes and support communities. Backed by PAS 99 integrated management systems, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, BS 15713 secure destruction standards, and Department of the Environment registration, we remain committed to responsible, ethical, and sustainable business practices.
Marking our commitment
The Planet Mark recognises our commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability and to measuring and reducing our carbon footprint year on year. Through its rigorous methodology, it gives us a clear and accurate understanding of our environmental performance, helping us set annual targets, track progress, and identify where we can improve. Our certification also commits us to engaging stakeholders and empowering our people to contribute to positive change by applying their knowledge, skills, and ideas. Planet Mark reporting enables us to measure our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, covering key social, environmental, and economic priorities, and to understand the wider impact of our business. In addition, our certification supports Planet Mark’s charitable partners, with contributions funding projects through The Eden Project and Cool Earth, reinforcing our commitment to environmental protection, education, and community-led sustainability initiatives.
Our Green Initiative
Our Green Initiative brings together our products, principles, and practices to help businesses improve sustainability through practical office products and services. We focus on driving responsible change across our own operations while supporting customers with a considered range of ethically sourced solutions, supported by our free, no-obligation Green Audit to identify opportunities for improvement. Our Initiative range includes over 800 office products, from everyday consumables to furnishings and equipment, all clearly labelled with relevant standards and certifications to support informed purchasing. Through our membership of Integra Business Solutions and representation on the BOSS Environmental Committee, we help shape best practice across the sector. We work closely with suppliers who demonstrate strong social and environmental responsibility, requiring CSR statements, COSHH data, and quality assurance, supported by transparent supply chain auditing available to our customers. Alongside this, we promote waste reduction, paperless fulfilment, packaging re-use, and advice on carbon reduction, helping businesses take practical steps towards recognised standards such as ISO 14001.
Carbon balancing
We carbon balance our entire range of Initiative branded products and recycled papers in partnership with Antalis and their global conservation partners. While we continually work to reduce carbon emissions across our own operations, we also recognise the need to address the environmental impact associated with the manufacture and distribution of the products we supply. Where emissions cannot be fully eliminated, we mitigate them through certified carbon balancing, supporting projects that capture and lock in carbon through habitat regeneration and forest protection. Antalis calculate product carbon using the UK Government’s Emission Conversion Factors, covering raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation, with all carbon credits certified under the UK Woodland Carbon Code. Through partnerships with Forest Carbon and the World Land Trust, our carbon balancing supports reforestation and sustainable land management projects in the UK and internationally, helping reduce our overall carbon footprint while delivering meaningful environmental benefits for our stakeholders.
Low co2st Reverse Logistics
Our Low co2st Reverse Logistics initiative forms part of our wider approach to sustainable delivery and waste management, designed to reduce the environmental, social, and economic impact of transportation. By combining product deliveries and waste collections into a single journey, we reduce the number of vehicle movements required, lowering CO₂ emissions, fuel consumption, and the associated impact of vehicle use. This approach also helps minimise congestion, improve air quality, and reduce wear on roads and infrastructure, benefiting local communities and other road users. Developed in collaboration with our stakeholders, Low co2st Reverse Logistics is simple to implement and delivers measurable benefits for our customers while supporting a more efficient, responsible, and sustainable transport network.
Proactively reducing waste at source
Our Maintain, Repair, Re-use approach focuses on proactively reducing waste at source by extending the life of buildings, furnishings, and equipment. We recognise that producing and recycling these assets is carbon intensive, so maximising their usable lifespan is a priority within our sustainability strategy. By providing scheduled preventative maintenance and on-demand repairs, we help businesses avoid unnecessary waste, reduce the use of carbon-heavy resources, and protect their financial investment. Our service covers a wide range of assets, including fixtures, furnishings, electrical equipment, security systems, and water quality compliance, delivered by fully trained and accredited operatives. Where items cannot be repaired, we ensure responsible disposal and recycling, and where assets are no longer required, we support re-use through organisations such as the Reuse Network, helping charities across the UK while reducing waste and environmental impact.
Supporting on projects
We are proud to be a major supporter of the Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, helping to fund projects that make a genuine difference to people and communities. Building positive partnerships and supporting teamwork and community are central to how we operate, and through our involvement with the Foundation we are able to support a wider range of charitable initiatives than we could alone. The Foundation provides funding to individuals and organisations doing vital work, often behind the scenes, empowering vulnerable people, promoting self-respect, and creating lasting change. We support the work of the Legends network through direct donations and by encouraging our staff and customers to nominate charities, with final selections made by the Legends themselves. Through this approach, we aim to create meaningful fundraising opportunities, strengthen long-term partnerships, and support initiatives that deliver real and lasting impact.
Taking care of our staff
Our people are central to the integrity and future of our business. We share our principles, values, and aims with our staff, and in return they help shape our direction, inform our solutions, and support our sustainable development. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and positive working environment where individuals feel valued, motivated, and able to develop their skills and achieve their goals. Through an open-door management approach, we encourage honest communication and the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and experience across the organisation. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance, taking personal circumstances into account and ensuring staff feel comfortable raising concerns, confident they will be handled fairly and promptly. By fostering trust, respect, accountability, and transparency, we aim to create a workplace that benefits our people and all those we work with.
Customer care
We believe strong customer care is built on mutual understanding and responsible business practice. Our role is to identify, understand, and fulfil the needs of our customers and stakeholders, while driving productivity, reducing negative impact, and promoting social responsibility. Through our consultancy services, we offer free audits and assessments to help businesses improve their operations, supported by clear, factual reporting and guidance towards recognised standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. We take our responsibilities as a supplier seriously, applying accredited standards for health and safety, data protection, privacy, and security, with all staff DBS screened and fully insured. By combining face-to-face engagement with integrated digital systems, we make it easier for customers to access support, manage procurement, and resolve issues efficiently, providing transparent, secure services delivered by dedicated teams with specialist expertise.