We Did It!

Following our Green Mark certification to Level 1 in January of this year and our subsequent recent recognition as a B Corp certified company, Futures Supplies are delighted to announce they have now been awarded the prestigious Green Mark Level 2 accreditation.

Green Mark provides an internationally recognised environmental certification for companies to indorse their overall environmental performance. The certification process assesses, audits and certifies a business’ impact on the environment and wider community.

Futures Supplies have been able to demonstrate through this certification process, to our clients, employees and the wider community, that we are conducting business to the highest possible standard.

Purva Shah, Green Mark’s Customer Support Executive commented ‘I would like to say a big congratulations on achieving Green Mark Level 2! You had a fantastic submission and scored almost 100% across the board which is an amazing achievement’.

Congratulations to Andrew Hills our Office and ESG Manager for his commitment and hard work on this project and to all the team at Futures Supplies who continue to work tirelessly on improving our social and environmental credentials to help provide a better and more sustainable future for us all.

You can find out more about the Green Mark Certification here greenmark.co.uk/our-approach/

Proud to be a B Corp™ Certified Company

We are so proud our business has achieved B Corp certification.

For over 29 years, Futures Supplies has been at the forefront of sustainable business practices, offering eco-friendly solutions to a wide range of customers. This certification underscores the company’s holistic approach to sustainability, not only through the products we supply but in every aspect of our operations.

B Corp is more than a stamp of approval. It is an objective framework for us to continue to build our business so that it works for both people and planet.

As a certified B Corp, Futures Supplies joins an elite group of companies—over 6,000 globally—dedicated to using business as a force for good. The company is now part of a global movement to drive a shift towards more sustainable and ethical business practices across industries.

It gives us the language and tools to share our story with the wider world. It raises the bar for us to reach and it helps us to share our journey towards becoming the world’s definitive zero carbon Washroom & Cleaning partner – one toilet roll at time!

B Lab’s social and environmental business standards define how businesses can be a force for good. Based on stakeholder input, research, and established best practices, these standards are the basis for B Corp Certification requirements and B Lab’s impact management tools, and they inform the network’s programs and collective action initiatives.

Overseen by B Lab’s independent Standards Advisory Council, the standards help companies improve, measure, and manage their impact on people and the planet.

By certifying, B Corps step into a framework for continuous improvement. In order to maintain certification, companies must undertake the assessment and verification process every three years, demonstrating they are still meeting B Lab’s standards, which are themselves always improving, with continual input from expert stakeholders.

“We see this as a new chapter for Futures Supplies—one that aligns with our vision for the future of business and sustainability,” said Marc Kemp, Managing Director. “This certification gives us a framework to grow responsibly while holding ourselves to the highest possible standards.”

Find out more about our overall B Impact Score here

Congratulations Marc Kemp!

Futures Supplies are delighted to congratulate our Managing Director, Marc Kemp, on his admission, as a Freeman, into The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.

Marc said “I am honoured to be part of such an exceptional group of professionals and industry leaders. I hope I can bring my 26 years of industry experience to collaborate with other members for the benefit of all as well as contribute to the WCEC worthy Charitable Trust. An example of one of its recent projects is providing a donation to the ‘Magic Breakfast’, which aims to provide 2,000 meals to help disadvantaged children.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking my friend, Louis Beaumont, MD of Hive Cleaning, for proposing me and the Membership Court committee at the WCEC for admitting me.

At Futures Supplies our ethos has always been one of integrity in delivering service, quality, value, reliability, with a commitment to environmental sustainability, and social consideration and we are keen to work with like-minded companies and individuals who match our business ethics”.

Admission was followed by the presentation of the Livery Certificate and then onto the Visiting Masters Luncheon held at the Grocers Hall, next to the iconic Bank of England in the heart of the city.

The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners aim to encourage and maintain high standards of practice and integrity in the cleaning and associated industries. Promoting and supporting education, training, research projects and charities it is one of 111 Livery Companies which are based upon trades, industries and professions and carry on the ancient traditions of the Guilds and Livery Companies which started in the 12th century.

The WCEC was formed in 1972 as the Guild of Cleaners and subsequently known as the Guild of Master Cleaners. It was granted full Livery Status in 1986 as the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, the 97th Livery Company of the City of London. HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh was an Honorary Freeman of the Company.

You can find out more about the Environmental Cleaners, its initiatives and events at their website.    

Small Steps Have a Big Impact!

At Futures Supplies we recognise that our business activities have an unavoidable impact on the environment. Our approach is therefor to support the environment by continually striving to make it part of our ethos to reduce the creation of waste through recycling.

This approach is applied throughout our organisation and through third parties involved in, or with our business, in such a way to facilitate the protection of the environment. We are committed wherever possible and practicable to sustainable practices, encouraging similar standards from all customers, suppliers, and contractors on environmental matters.

As part of this commitment to reduce, reuse, and recycle, we strategically segregate all our scrap plastic film waste such as stretch pallet wrap, pallet covers and plastic packaging.

This plastic waste is collected on pallets by our supply partners and reprocessed into recycled pellet ready to be re blown into new films for reuse in the recycled range of refuse sacks we sell thereby closing the recycling loop.

We have also successfully implemented measures to reduce and recycling all of our paper, card and plastics. Our printer cartridges are recycled and postage stamps are recycled through the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Regularly independently audited and recognised with numerous green accolades, we currently recycle over 75% of our waste, proving small steps can have a big impact!

Sustainability or Greenwashing?

Always keen to keep up with regulatory changes, our Managing Director Marc Kemp and Office Manager Andy Hills, recently attended an event hosted by the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with their Patrons Borenius and Metsä Group.

Held at the Leonardo Royal London St Pauls, the event consisted of two keynote speeches, as well as a panel discussion moderated by Lord Justice Snowden.

Sustainability and associated topics are top-trending subjects, on all platforms, across all organisations. However, what does sustainability really mean? What is required, legally or ethically, how is it achieved and how do you sort out the “buzz” from the reality?

Aksu Tuominen from Borenius gave an insight into the Green Claims Directive, the Proposal for Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste, and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

The second keynote speech was provided by Maija Pohjakallio and Kalle Ikonen from Futures Supplies’ partner Metsä Group. They focused on the practical experiences against the background of recent regulations, also shedding light on current EU deforestation regulation and nature restoration laws.

The insightful speeches lead to an interesting and insightful panel discussion on how the topics affect the ongoing concerns of businesses with panellists were Kalle Ikonen and Maija Pohjakallio from Metsä Group, Casper Herler from Borenius, and Andrew Griffiths from Planet Mark.

You can find out more about out sustainability initiatives on our website at www.futures-supplies.co.uk

Launching the UK’s First Biological Soluble Paper Cleaning Sachets

Futures Supplies, in partnership with BioHygiene, are delighted to launch THE cleaning sachet to help businesses of all sizes create safe, clean, healthy spaces and reduce their environmental impact.

BioHygiene’s market-leading cleaning products harness the power of microbes, enzymes and natural plant derivatives that work deep into surfaces to quickly break down and remove dirt, grime and grease.

The new generation Biotechnology and Ecotechnology targets dirt, grime, grease and odours for a superior cleaning performance. Water-soluble paper sachets & recyclable packaging eliminates plastic waste and low-hazardous formulas protect staff from injury and ill-health.

Kinder ingredients protect our aquatic ecosystem and biodiversity. Smart dosing reduces storage and costs to streamline operations and sustainable, renewable raw materials reduce CO2 by up to 80%.

Try them now www.futures-supplies.co.uk/product.asp?p_part_code=007%2E702W

Making a Real Difference, Right Here Right Now!

Futures Supplies were delighted, on 22nd January 2024, to be awarded the Green Mark Level 1 accreditation for our environmental performance and commitment to sustainability.

The Green Mark Sustainability certification process assesses, audits and certifies a business’ impact on the environment and wider community. It provides an internationally recognised environmental certification, endorsing a company’s environmental credentials through a journey of independent certification.

Futures Supplies have been able to demonstrate through this certification process, to both our clients and employees that we are conducting business, to a recognised international environmental standard.

Mariana Kit, Green Mark’s Customer Support Executive commented ‘I would like to say a big congratulations on achieving Green Mark Level 1! You had a fantastic submission and scored 100% across the board which is an amazing achievement’.

Congratulations to Andrew Hills our Office Manager for his work on this exciting project and to all the  team at Futures Supplies who work tirelessly on improving our environmental credentials to help provide a better and more sustainable future for us all.

You can find out more about the Green Mark Certification here – greenmark.co.uk/our-approach/

Bee Kind!

Our Managing Director, Marc Kemp was delighted to be invited to visit the beehives at the Bee Urban site in Kennington Park by Hive Cleaning who we have been in collaboration with, though their sponsorship program, to support this worthy project.

Bee Urban is a social enterprise that aims to work with communities to improve the environment for the benefit of us all. Focusing on responsible urban beekeeping, horticulture and community growing. It’s not just about bees, people are vital to Bee Urban.

Community engagement and volunteering is important to the project, providing opportunities to contribute to the locality, be creative and reduce social isolation.

Our friends at Hive Cleaning are a B Corp certified, ethical office cleaning company who are committed to making a positive impact on the environment. As part of their efforts, Hive Cleaning have pledged to sponsor a beehive for every new cleaning contract they are awarded. 

Futures Supplies are delighted to sponsor this worthy project as of one of our key sustainability initiatives.

Saving The Planet Since 2006

Scientific consensus states that carbon emissions must be reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change. Businesses have an important and essential role to play in meeting reduction targets. By reducing CO² emissions and carbon offsetting, businesses like ours are able to play their part in the climate change battle. 

Futures Supplies is delighted to have partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to ensure it continues to maintain its Carbon Neutral for the 16th successive year. This accreditation positions us as an industry leader with one of the strongest and most credible approaches to climate change. 

Since 2006 we have demonstrated our commitment to reducing our CO² emissions in accordance with leading edge quality assurance standards including independent certification to BS EN ISO 14001.

We are proud to be taking a net zero position on emissions by measuring the carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions associated with our business, reducing them at source, and then offsetting any unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits. 

To ‘balance out’ our emissions, we use our carbon credits to support projects throughout the world. We are currently supporting the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™. 

Projects selected within the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™ are based on their direct and indirect impact around the world – not just in offsetting, but also in supporting education, employment and clean water, as well as having net positive impact on the local wildlife and ecology. 

As a result of this reduction process coupled with offsetting the unavoidable emissions associated with our business, our carbon footprint is reduced to net zero.

You can find out more about our Commitment to the environment here https://www.futures-supplies.co.uk/environment.asp

Let’s Bee Sustainable!

We’re thrilled to announce that Futures Supplies has teamed up with the wonderful Bee Urban project, in partnership with their main sponsor, Hive Cleaning, to support one of our many sustainability initiatives. 

Our friends at Hive Cleaning are a B Corp certified, ethical office cleaning company who are committed to making a positive impact on the environment. 

As part of their efforts, they have pledged to sponsor a beehive for every new cleaning contract they are awarded. 

Bee Urban, is a social enterprise focused on responsible urban beekeeping, horticulture, and community growing, it’s a fantastic initiative that we’re proud to be a part of. 

To learn more about Bee Urban’s inspiring projects and volunteer opportunities, please visit their website at The Hive.