Brother joins elite club of world’s most sustainable companies

Tameside-based Brother UK has played a leading role in helping its global parent company, Brother Industries, to join the FTSE4Good Index – a select group of the world’s most environmentally and socially sustainable companies

The index measures the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice, which includes household names such as Apple, Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson.

The listing reflects the global business’s success in working to meet the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals, from tackling climate change and resource depletion, to reducing environmental pollution and destruction of the ecosystem.

Brother UK has led the way in the group’s ESG initiatives, twice winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its outstanding achievements in sustainable development.

Last year Brother UK became the North West’s only business to receive independent certification for zero waste to landfill with Valpak, which it achieved for the 10^th consecutive year. It’s also working closely with the group to facilitate and encourage print cartridge recycling. In the year to March 2020, more than 159,000 toner cartridges were returned for recycling by UK customers, up 10% on the previous 12-months.

The business also retained its Investors in People Platinum status – the most prestigious accolade in people management – for the third year running, in recognition of its support for employees and the wider community. This includesemployees working with local schools across Greater Manchester to create opportunities for students, volunteering more than 1,500 hours and positively impacting more than 4,800 people last year alone.

Sam Johnson, community engagement manager at Brother UK, said: “This recognition reflects the group’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting communities around the world.

“Sustainability and community engagement are ingrained in our culture and play a huge role in every decision we make, which includes the development of new products and services. 

“From our award-winning apprenticeship scheme to our school volunteers programmes, we invest thousands of hours every year into building the futures of local young people.

“We know that our customers share our ethical values and understand that, by selecting Brother, they’re choosing a sustainable partner.”

Brother International is also the longest standing business partner of deforestation action group Cool Earth, with more than 10 years supporting the organisation.