Corporate Social Responsibility
Leading from the front
As a leading supplier within our industry, we recognise our responsibility to be socially accountable to our workforce, our clients’ and the public.
We continue to adopt a rigorous progression approach in all that we do especially where our business model may have an impact on the environment, the economy and the local community. As part of our company ethos of being ‘infinitely better’ we continue to make strides to achieve a ‘carbon neutral’ status with a timeline of carbon neutrality by 2026.
“As the Managing Director of bespoke, I see my role as leading from the front and I am more than passionate about putting sustainability and protecting the environment as the top priority within bespoke.
Having the travel bug from a very early age, I have been lucky enough to travel the world and to see some truly breath taking and amazing sights. I worry about my children’s and grandchildren’s futures as our environment is threatened by global warming and an increasing population and want them to be able to experience what I have in the next 50 years and beyond.
I am determined that our company does its bit in tackling these issues head on and will drive our sustainability ethos forward in achieving carbon neutrality by 2026”
"Behavioural change is needed to make impactful climate solutions and there must be strength in numbers. Personally, I’m plant-based and try wherever I can to be sustainable at home. As an Office Manager my mission is to reduce our carbon footprint – Do we really need to print ‘that’ document?
We have converted as many paper-based documents to digital format to cut-out the paperwork created by ensuring the correct operations for a cleaning contract. One ream of paper (500 sheets) will use 5% of a 45ft x 8” diameter tree trunk. In a quiet month we create an average of 2000 digital forms. Clearly to continue to make the business fully digital is essential and I am passionate to achieve this by our carbon neutral goal of 2026’’
“As a keen surfer and cyclist, I spend a lot of my free time in the outdoor environment and am often appalled at the amount of waste and litter that I see around our country.
From sewage spills and plastic waste in the ocean where I surf, to litter and fly tipping around the country lanes where I ride my bike, all have the potential to damage our environment and ruin my day, which makes me both sad and angry.
This is why when I was asked to take on the new role of HSEQ Director at bespoke I jumped at the chance, the chance to make a difference in some small way at work really appealed to me’’
‘’I am passionate about trying to find ways to live my life in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way. I believe that each small step I take will inevitably lead to big changes.
I eat a plant-based diet which I believe is better for me and also the environment. I try as much as possible to purchase from local suppliers to not only support them but to cut down on the carbon footprint caused by transportation. I try to buy loose fruit and vegetables to cut down on single use plastic and although I recycle any plastic that cannot be re-purposed (for example to store food instead of buying plastic storage solutions). I am very conscious that not all plastic is being recycled in the proper way, a lot of it ending up in the ocean and in third world countries. I never use plastic bags when shopping and I am trying all the time to find new ways to transition to plastic free living.
I avoid buying clothes from fast fashion outlets and instead purchase quality, sustainable and ethical products. I recycle clothes that are no longer needed by taking them to charity shops and I am also trying to have a more minimalist, capsule wardrobe. The cosmetics, body creams and cleaning products I purchase are all cruelty free and wherever possible vegan. I believe that by finding solutions that are in tune with nature we are also taking care of our own wellbeing.
In short, I want to live a meaningful life which is good for me and my family with as little of an impact on the environment as possible’’
‘’We are all increasingly conscious about environmental issues especially within the cleaning industry. I am proud of the steps bespoke are taking to become carbon neutral and helping our clients to reduce their carbon footprint’’
‘’Being a senior manager at bespoke since the very start, I have seen over the years how important sustainability has become and how all of us at bespoke can play our own part, both at work and in our personal lives.
I recycle cardboard, plastics, cans, and bottles with any unwanted clothes being taken to our local charity shops for resale or recycling.
Whatever site I visit, I always check our stores cupboards to ensure recycling procedures are in place and the absolute minimum product reaches land fill’’
“I am passionate about the environment, and it is with pride that I work for a company with the driving ambition to become the most sustainable commercial cleaning company in the UK by the end of 2026. Their goals focus on utilising the most sustainable product, whilst protecting our planet and supporting our people in all that we do”
‘’’I recycle everything that I can at home. We have recycling for paper, cardboard, glass and plastics and I also collect food waste for a friend that has an allotment and wants it for compost.
Any old clothes we have are recycled or taken to local cancer charity shops. When buying goods, I try to use shops that sell herbs and spices into their own containers which are recyclable or biodegradable. Also, I actively use the Body Shop which will re-use tubs that held toiletries. With lockdown I haven’t done this for a while but with restrictions easing and us getting back to normal, I will definitely start again. We all must play our part, however small in protecting our planet’’
I confirm that the data reported is accurate.
Anna Symes
Personnel Director