Oxford-based Seacourt, and Beccles and Norwich-based Anglia Print have both placed among the top 5% of B Corps in the world.
Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. There are more than 4,000 companies certified by B Corp globally.
B Lab, the global non-profit network that certifies and mobilises Certified B Corporations, recognised the two printers for their “exemplary performance beyond commercial metrics”.
Seacourt has achieved this ranking due to aspects including its development of quality waterless LED printing process LightTouch, using 100% renewable energy, reducing volatile chemical emissions by 98.5%, and delivering zero waste to landfill.
As the final step for emissions that can’t be reduced further, Seacourt offsets its entire footprint plus 10% by investing in the Climate Care initiative, with cookstoves in Ghana and Bangladesh that require 50% less fuel and less smoke than traditional means, both cutting carbon emissions and reducing exposure to toxic fumes.
Earlier this year Seacourt also received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the sustainable development category for the fourth time.
On its latest accolade, managing director Gareth Dinnage said: “We are beyond happy and incredibly proud about being recognised as one of the Best for the World B Corps of 2021.
“As all B Corps are already businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose, this is a recognition that makes us incredibly proud.
“And we’re just getting started. We will continue collaborating with the global B Corp community to improve and positively impact all our stakeholders.”
Anglia Print was the first B Corp certified UK printer, achieving the certification in May last year, during the first coronavirus lockdown.
The business uses 100% renewable energy, runs a circular economy, is climate positive – meaning it gives back more than it takes, and has delivered zero waste to landfill since 2005. No chemistry used in its production is harmful to the environment.
It is also FSC and ISO 14001 certified, and was the last EMAS accredited printing company in the UK before Brexit. The business has also just received certification for its last audit to again be awarded Suffolk Carbon Charter Gold status.
Anglia Print managing director John Popely told Printweek the company was “incredibly dedicated” to reducing its environmental footprint, with “everything we do geared towards minimsing our impact”.
“We were absolutely delighted to be the first B Corp printing company in the UK, and to be told that we’re in the top 5% of companies for our environmental effort in the world is even better,” he said.
“We’d like to pass on our thanks to all of our staff, our customers, and friends for all of the effort and belief they have shown us.”
B Lab Global executive director Juan Pablo Larenas added: “This year's Best for the World companies are operating at the very top of their class, excelling in creating positive impact for their stakeholders, including their workers, communities, customers and the environment.
“We’re proud of the community of stakeholder-driven businesses we’ve cultivated over the last 15 years; together we’re marching toward our collective vision of an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet.”
