Riding a Brompton is good for you and the planet. But it's only part of the equation.
People, planet and activism, are at the heart of our business.
Being B Corp Certified helps embed these values into our culture.
It's a useful tool that helps us deliver our purpose by providing checks and balances. It means we're part of a global community with a shared framework and goal - to use our business as a force for good.
We officially received our B Corp certification in July 2023. This marked a huge milestone for us.
To become B Corp Certified, we completed a B Impact Assessment — answering 300 questions across five impact topics. It works according to a point scoring system where you must achieve at least 80 points to qualify for the certification. It’s a robust process.
We scored 85 against a business average of 50.
The Climate Crisis is the defining issue of our times. As a global manufacturer, we have a duty and a responsibility to respond with ambitious leadership in our sector. Our carbon reduction plan involves changes to both our operations and supply chains.
The waste management system at our London factory covers everything from metal scrap to coats of paint.
In 2023 we reduced our metal scrap rate, continued to operate a powder-coating paint process that reuses paint from one frame to another and recycled 62% of waste at Greenford.
To achieve high-quality brazing and painting results, we must carefully wash the steel tubes used to make our bikes. Naturally, this is water intensive. By investing in a new water recycling washing system, we have reduced this waste and pollution.
The system continuously recovers and re-uses wash water, offering a more efficient process and reducing usage. Once the system is full, it is sent to specialists who recover and clean even more water.
Packaging is an essential part of our business. We need it to ensure parts and components are transported safely and without damage.
However, despite its importance, we recognise we must reduce the overall volume. That’s why we’ve started using returnable packaging with several suppliers to reduce our overall waste.
Packing and shipping bikes generates too much waste. We need to make significant reductions through efficiencies and improving the materials we use.
We are now working to reduce the volume of plastic in consumer packaging and use more sustainable materials. In 2023 we started using plastic inserts inside our bicycle box to protect our bikes during shipping. In 2024 we’re redesigning the bike box to protect our bikes without using plastic.
Our Ethical Trade Programme holds suppliers across our supply chain to the same high standards we expect of ourselves. To ensure the program is more than just words on paper (or screen), we carefully audit suppliers, big and small.
Colleagues across our business have modern slavery and ethical code of conduct training, so they have the skills and knowledge to act if they ever see our policies being violated.
Brompton is an accredited member of the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) - an independent movement of employers who believe a fair day's work should mean a fair day's pay. This means everyone at Brompton (UK) gets paid the Real Living wage or more. The hourly rate, which is higher than the government minimum wage, is independently calculated to meet the cost of living.
The LWF are extending their brilliant work beyond the UK and we're in full support. Until then, we will continue to benchmark wages regularly to make sure colleagues in other countries are paid fairly.
The Good Business Charter recognise, champion and encourage responsible business behaviour for the benefit of people and planet.
GBC has over 1000 members and growing, all contributing to make a difference.
