Certification
GIMA SUSTAINABILITY AWARD: WINNERS 2022
The Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) is a dynamic and proactive membership organisation representing the majority share of suppliers and manufacturers within the UK gardening industry.
Long established as the garden industry event of the year the GIMA Awards is a celebration of product and marketing innovation and is open to suppliers of products being sold within the garden retail sector.
In 2022 Hortiwool were joint winners of the Sustainability Award, sustainability champions in the Garden Care sector and finalists for both Growing, Planting Equipment & Sundries and Garden Care.
B CORP STATUS
To receive certification, we had to complete the B Corp Impact Assessment, providing in depth evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices – including energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. Finally, to achieve the certification, we have legally embedded our commitment to purpose beyond profit into our company articles.
As a result, we are now proud to be officially part of a community of over 3,200 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community is reflective of the UK economy, with businesses of different sizes from a cross section of industries. These include well-known brands like innocent, Patagonia, Pukka Herbs, Abel & Cole, Divine, and JoJo Maman Bebe.
We decided to go for B Corp certification because it fits perfectly with our values as a company. As a result of joining B Corp, we have also signed up to support the Better Business Act campaign, find out more about this movement on their site – https://betterbusinessact.org/
HOW DOES B CORP WORK?
We’re proud to be one of the first UK manufacturers of packaging to earn B Corp status, and the only one in our county. We want to encourage other businesses, across all sectors and regions, to consider going for it too.
It was a rigorous and detailed process which, if anything, showed us how we can do more to live up to the B Corp commitment. By shining a light on how we work, it confirmed what we already knew – we’re far from perfect!
CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLE
The Seedling Certification is an industry standard, awarded to products made from biodegradable and compostable materials, which fulfill the requirements of European Standards.
Although as a natural material, wool is clearly compostable, we are the only company providing felted wool pads to be certified as such. Our products have been independently tested and certified, and comply with DIN requirements.
ISO ACCREDITATION
Hortiwool are dedicated to customer satisfaction, high standards of quality and best practice – ISO certification (The International Organisation for Standardisation) helps define how we meet the requirements of our customers and manage our impact on the wider world. The focus of the ISO standards is on consistent, measured and structured ways of working, with continually improvement at the heart of each system. Most importantly, ISO certification is achieved following regular, rigorous external audits by an accredited ISO assessor, meaning companies can have the confidence of an independent, non-biased assessment of a business’s practices. After which, the certification is only achieved if the standards are met.
WHY ISO 9001?
ISO 9001:2015 is focused on Quality Management Systems and Business Continuity. Using ISO 9001 helps ensure that customers get consistent, great-quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.
The ISO 9001 standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. These principles are explained in more detail in ISO’s quality management principles.
WHY ISO 14001?
ISO 14001:2015 is focused on Environmental Impact and managing of a company’s wider world responsibilities. It is a framework by which a company or organisation can set up a system to monitor, measure and improve their impact environmentally. For example, reviewing energy usage, water usage and/or waste management.
This standard is based on measuring and improving impact with the ultimate emphasis on continually improvement. It provides a frame work for companies to work within, along with external, independent audits to ensure the objectives set out are being met.
WHY ISO 45001?
For organizations that are serious about improving employee safety, reducing workplace risks and creating better, safer working conditions, there’s ISO 45001.
ISO 45001 builds on the success of earlier international standards in this area such as OHSAS 18001, the International Labour Organization’s ILO-OSH Guidelines, various national standards and the ILO’s international labour standards and conventions.
WHY ISO 27001?
When it comes to keeping information assets secure, organizations can rely on the ISO/IEC 27000 family.
ISO/IEC 27001 is widely known, providing requirements for an information security management system (ISMS), though there are more than a dozen standards in the ISO/IEC 27000 family. Using them enables organizations of any kind to manage the security of assets such as financial information, intellectual property, employee details or information entrusted by third parties.
SUPPORTING TERRA CARTA
FOREWORD by HRH The Prince of Wales
The interdependence between human health and planetary health has never been more clear. As we start a new decade, it is time to focus on the future we wish to build, and indeed leave, for generations to come. Humanity has made incredible progress over the past century, yet the cost of this progress has caused immense destruction to the planet that sustains us. We simply cannot maintain this course indefinitely.
Today must be the decisive moment that we make sustainability the growth story of our time, while positioning Nature as the engine of our economy. To help us succeed, and to complement global efforts across public, private and philanthropic sectors, I am calling on CEOs from around the world to engage and play their part in leading the global transition. To guarantee our future, we have no other choice but to make each day count – and it must start today.
WHAT DOES OUR SUPPORT MEAN?
The Terra Carta aims to provide an integrated roadmap towards an inspiring, inclusive, equitable, prosperous and sustainable future for the sake of present and future generations; one that will harness the power of Nature combined with the transformative power, innovation and resources of the private sector.
Woolcool® are fully onboard to play our small part in a global challenge.
OUR PLEDGE TO THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT
We believe in fair, equal opportunities and being a supportive business. For this reason we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant. This pledge demonstrates our support for the Armed Forces Community.
READ MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS
