OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PLANET AND EVERYTHING ON IT
Last updated: 28th March 2023
This is only the start...
Here at Bo+Tee it's important to us to be transparent with our customers, open up the conversation on climate change and show our commitment to a happier and healthier planet!
We're still in the early stages of our sustainability journey. We know there is a lot to be done and we're excited to bring you along with us.
Currently, we’re working hard behind the scenes to develop and create a sustainability strategy. Through this, we’ll be able to implement changes bit-by-bit that protect the planet and the people on it. We’ll release more in the up-coming months!
We're sticking to our values
Bo+Tee is a brand with purpose. On seeing the awful poverty that many children were living in across southeast Asia, our founders Claire Henderson and Mike Branney started selling clothes on eBay and donating the profits to charity. After gaining huge success on eBay, Claire and Mike created their own websites, but the value and purpose behind the brand was never lost. The company has donated over £400k to the charity in the last few years.
Our mission
Our brand is built on ethical values, and we believe we have a responsibility to help the planet, just as we're helping communities in southeast Asia. We're committed to giving our customers unique, high-quality designs without compromising the principles that Bo+Tee was built on.
Keep reading to see THE positive steps we're already taking...
The planet
Measuring our emissions
In collaboration with Carbon Footprint Limited we've calculated and verified our FY22 Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. We produced 20.52 tCO2e (market-based). We're in the process of measuring our Scope 3 emissions for the same time period. From this, we will be able to establish a baseline for future reporting and locate emission hot spots, allowing us to create a carbon reduction plan.
Solar panels
We have partnered with Engenera who have installed ground-breaking combined heat and power units (CHP) on site. But why is this important? This specially designed system offers a clean and renewable heat source for the entire warehouse and office space at our Bromborough site.
Low impact deliveries
We have the following low impact delivery options for UK customers (only):
- Click & Collect store or InPost lockers, see the data to back it up here
- DPD offset all delivery emissions so whenever you select them at checkout, you're opting for a carbon neutral service
Cycle to work scheme
We have introduced a new incentive scheme for our staff, to opt for a bike instead of a car, when travelling to work. How do you travel to work?
Carpooling
Where possible, our staff love to carpool! If there are up to four of you in a car, that's up to three cars off the road making the same journey. This is great for reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, mitigating traffic and reducing the demand for parking infrastructure. You can do this too!
Motion activated
The lighting in our distribution centre is motion activated so that we minimise energy use. All lights are LED.
Reducing waste
Paperless returns
This means that you no longer receive an invoice inside your order. We’ve cut back on ~1,350,000 pieces of paper a year! To return your parcel, please use our returns portal here.
ReCover IT
We work with ReCover IT who are a local IT disposal company in Liverpool, UK. They securely destroy all data on our end-of-life devices. The remaining hardware is repaired or recycled! They donate a portion of their sales to charity.
Recycling and general waste
B&M Waste Management, a carbon neutral company, takes all the waste from our office and distribution centre, in Bromborough, UK. This is separated and diverted to the correct waste streams in the depo. They'll either recycle our waste or turn it into energy. From their most recent report (01/09/2021-31/08/2022), 100% of our waste from the site has been diverted from landfill. You can find out more here
Our packaging
Boxless
We have started phasing out boxes to reduce the amount of resources we use and minimise waste.
Boxes
They are 100% recyclable and made from FSC certified materials.
Mailing bags
They are made from 30% recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE). These can be 100% recycled anywhere you see the LDPE4 logo, i.e. supermarket and travel hubs.
Please use these links to locate your local recycling centre:
Rest of world - please check with your local authority for recycling soft plastics.
Increasing circularity
Donate for a discount
You can donate your preloved items to charity for free through us with our new scheme, in partnership with The Salvation Army - they don’t have to be Bo+Tee items, it can be any brand! To find out more about this, please follow this link. This is only for UK customers
Product recovery scheme: Repair and Rewear
If something happens to your item, we may be able to help you! We offer a sustainable option, by refunding 20% of the item value. This allows you to take the item to your local tailor or fix it yourself. Did you know that extending a garment’s life by just nine months can reduce its carbon, waste, and water footprints by between 20 to 30 per cent?!
Remember to fix it before you ditch it!
Please note that all cases are reviewed individually.
Spot wash machine
93% of our returns are re-sellable. Wonder what we do with the rest? We have an inhouse spot wash machine that we use on 4% of returns. This means that they can be cleaned and re-packaged in perfect condition to be sent back out.
Remaining stock
Parker Lane help us to re-distribute end of season, slow selling stock and damaged items to areas that we don't have as much footfall. This helps to prolong the end-use of our products. They also take the remaining 3% of returns! Find out more here.
The people
Corporate social responsibility
We are following our Code of Conduct across the whole value chain, especially within production and manufacturing. You can find more information about how we manufacture below.
Job roles
71% of our senior roles are held by women. 70% of our employees within the company are women.
Zero tolerance: Discrimination
We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of discrimination or harassment based on someone’s sexual orientation, gender, civil status, family status, religion, race, age, or disability. 30 of our managers have received a Level 2 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. All members of our team complete a training module about Equality and Diversity and Bullying and Harassment within their first 2 weeks at Bo+Tee.
Charity donations
As well as our own charity, The Brannerson Foundation, we also regularly donate a portion of our profits to different charities throughout the year. Each charity helps to combat different environmental or social issues across the globe. Our employee of the month also picks a charity to donate £250! They are always personal charities that we love to help.
Mental wellbeing
We are a Suicide Safer Organisation. We have 18 Mental Health First Aiders, 12 Suicide Prevention First Aiders and 12 Sucide Alert Helpers on site. The courses are delivered by the Martin Gallier Project through their Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Employee assistance program
Colleagues can access a confidential helpline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Alongside other mental wellbeing resources.
Our donations
Since 2020, we've donated over £500,000 to amazing charities.
A large portion of our donations go towards our charity in Cambodia, The Brannerson Foundation. Every purchase made at Bo+Tee helps to support a number of children in one of the poorest regions in the world. As the brand continues to grow, all thanks to the community who love wearing our clothes, so does the level of support The Brannerson Foundation is able to offer.
Looking forward...
There's a lot more to do - we know! Every year we keep getting bigger and better, which means we need to take even more responsibility for the sustainability of our brand. Over the next few years, we’re looking to:
- Review our packaging
- Invest in low impact materials
- Offer additional low impact delivery options with efficient couriers
- Install EV charging points at our Bromborough, UK location
- Provide further information about how we produce and manufacture
- Outline official targets and KPIs for the upcoming years, with a main focus for 2030
- Work with partners, who align with our values, to ensure we’re on track to hitting our goals
We are working hard on our official sustainability strategy and carbon reduction plan. Once we have completed this, we’ll update our progression, promises and targets for 2025-2050.
There are plenty of other exciting projects happening behind the scenes. We’ll make sure to keep you updated.
The ball is in your court
If you’re a regular activewear lover who knows their stuff, then we’re sure you don’t need us to remind you of the harmful effects the industry currently has on the planet. Here at Bo+Tee, we’re proud to say our pledge to the planet is one we take seriously.
Help us to keep our clothes out of landfill. Read more about sustainable solutions to throwing your clothes away here.
