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Simply Washrooms (Simply), the UK-based workplace and washroom hygiene service provider, has been certified as a B Corporation (B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
Simply has also published its first B Corp Business Impact Report, an annual requirement for any certified B Corp. The report details Simply’s progress against various assessment criteria and shows how the company is advancing towards its sustainability goals.
Simply was certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
According to Simply, its certification represents an industry first, making it the only workplace and washroom hygiene service provider in the world to have achieved B Corp status. There are currently over 7,000 B Corps worldwide, and 1,500 in the UK, including well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.
Andrew Shelley, Operations Director of Simply Washrooms, said: “Simply is proud to be a part of the B Corp community. Achieving our certification is both the culmination of our efforts as a company to ensure we are doing everything we can to be an ethical and sustainable service provider, and also a reflection of our values and culture as an employer that really cares about its impact on the environment and community around us. Ultimately, it’s what sets apart from our competitors in the workplace.
“As a business we work with forward-thinking suppliers to provide sustainable and innovative facility management solutions. And as a people-driven service business, we recognise that achieving excellent results for our clients comes from building happy teams with equal opportunities for learning and growth.
“We are extremely proud to be the first company in our industry to achieve B Corp status, and we hope that we are paving the way for our peers to join us on the journey to becoming a more sustainable and ethical industry.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Simply Washrooms to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Simply are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming Simply is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the workplace hygiene industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Simply in paving the way for a new way of doing things.
“Being able to welcome Simply to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Their commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.”
