Twenty-five years ago this week, Wellworking was started to help more people work well, wherever they work. As we celebrate how far we have come, we are also looking towards the future where we will continue to help not just people, but also the environment.
As a Certified B Corporation, we want to do business better and are proud to publish our first Impact Report, which details our part in this global movement and how we pledge to make a difference by putting people and the planet first.
Traditionally, the office furniture sector has not had a good record on sustainability due to complex manufacturing processes, high use of single-use materials and a lack of an established second-hand or refurbished market. We want to do our bit to turn that around. Many manufacturers are starting to respond to the threat of climate change with greater use of renewable energy and the development of more sustainable materials, but there is still a lot of work to be done. As a wholesaler, we are working towards providing a higher proportion of ‘greener choice’ products that are better for the environment, but still offer the same ergonomic benefits to our customers.
We want to help our industry become more sustainable by providing furniture that is built to last, choosing to provide items with a higher recycled or recyclable content, reusing furniture in different environments and refurbishing items that might otherwise have been discarded. We also want to make sure that we are not only putting the planet first, but also taking the same care to look after our customers, staff and communities.
Not only do we strive to provide more sustainable products where we can, but the products we offer also provide a wellbeing benefit. The ergonomic office furniture and accessories we recommend to individuals and organisations enable people to work more comfortably, help prevent musculoskeletal problems, and therefore improve productivity.
We work with organisations to carry out wellbeing assessments to see how a work environment could be enriched, and suggest appropriate products for that space. These recommendations are based on the sustainable impact of the products and the wellbeing needs of the staff, rather than just on a financial basis. We also see a positive impact on the mental health of workers when their workplace environment is improved.
Our work is not only focused on those in a commercial, office environment. We also help assess and improve the wellbeing of home and hybrid workers. By supporting those not working from an office full-time, we help under-represented groups, such as those with disabilities or with caring responsibilities, to access the workplace and develop their careers.
Our Impact Report details how we have worked in these areas over the last fiscal year, and how we hope to continue to make a difference going forward. When we became a Certified B Corp we had a verified Impact score of 80.6. When we self-certified as part of the process of writing this report, we are now at 87.1. This improvement is down to the measures we have taken as part of our continued B Corp journey, but it is an ongoing process. We want to see our score improve even further in future years and use our business as a force for good.