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We are carbon neutral for our UK Group Operations in 2020

We moved to 100% green energy strategy for all sites which includes a transition to LED lighting. Our warehouse at Kennet Way already has 75% LED lighting installed and our warehouses at Stockport has 50% and Tewkesbury has 70% of LED lighting.

We recycled over 41 tonnes of baled cardboard in 2020. Consumables – we use 100% recycled paper in all our sites in the UK.

Our company vehicle policy moved to hybrid vehicles only and at the end of 2020, 100% of all new company cars moved to hybrid.

We committed to removing surplus single use plastic bags from our supply chain. By the end of 2020 we removed over 500,000 bags per annum.

In line with our sustainability goals we are transitioning our marketing collateral to being sent digitally. Our 2020/21 brochures were printed on sustainably sourced paper (FSC certified1).

We improved our waste management and appointed zero to landfill waste management companies to manage all waste streams at our Trowbridge HQ sites and waste streams for our retail sites.

Our plan to move 40%+ of all Banner garments to sustainable fabrics is well advanced and will be completed by 2022 Back to School. We are not giving our customers the choice of Eco or not Eco because the most environmentally friendly thing to do is to run down the stock to minimise waste. Through improved collaboration our product and buying teams are making excellent progress with our suppliers to transition all garments to 100% Eco by 2025. This includes the sourcing of sustainable cotton.

No Poverty

Banner code of practice and regular auditing ensures that workers in our global and UK supply chains are paid correctly by their employers. • No workers are paid less than the minimum wage

Zero Hunger

Our donations to local foodbanks have so far helped approximately 40 families. • No workers are paid less than minimum wage in supplier factories

Good Health and Well Being

Zero accident vision in the workplace.

  • Mental Health Awareness training for Managers/Supervisors.
  • Internal “WECARE” programme providing support when needed.
  • Internal team of Qualified Mental Health First Aiders to be recruited and trained to increase level of support for all colleagues at these challenging times.
  • Able to help support circa. 40 families in our local communities with regular voluntary food and toiletry donations

Ethical Trading and Human Rights

At Banner we have raised the bar to Sedex 4-Pillar. We are committed to improving the working conditions of those within our global supply chain through a robust ethical audit process (Sedex SMETA). Since 2006, we have been a member of Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers, working to improve ethical standards in global supply chains. Sedex uses the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) base code and local laws as its monitoring standards in its audits covering areas such as working conditions, human rights, working hours, health and safety. We are working closely with our Tier 1 wholesale suppliers to ensure they are fully compliant with the strict ethical sourcing regulations set in relation to the above areas. (See Banner’s ethical trading statement at banner.co.uk).

Modern Slavery and Whistleblowing

We work closely with all of our overseas supply base to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We recognise that this issue also applies to UK manufacturing too. Banner does not tolerate any form of slavery, servitude, forced labour and this is outlined fully in our current Modern Slavery Transparency statement which can be found on our website banner.co.uk. We will publish our updated Modern Slavery Statement by Q2 2021 which will further strengthen Banner's Zero tolerance to modern slavery, human trafficking and abuse of workers. In terms of whistleblowing, we recognise the importance of giving workers in our supply chain a voice and as part of the Sedex SMETA audit process, it is a requirement that systems are in place for workers to lodge complaints either anonymously via suggestion box or with employee representatives. Also, confidential interviews take place with groups of workers during the annual audit process to ensure suppliers comply.

Environment and responsible textile sourcing

As a responsible business we are working hard to reduce the direct impact of our business operations and supply chain on the natural environment and local communities. Our suppliers are dedicated to improving the effect that garment production has on our environment and a key element of the Sedex 4-Pillar audit process incorporates metrics relating to extended environment and business ethics. We are committed to making supply chain optimisation improvements; producing the best durable products sustainably, sourcing sustainable materials including recycled fabrics and trims, reducing our reliance on virgin fabrics. Also sustainable dyeing of fabrics, reducing chemical and water usage and pollution are the key areas of focus for us. We are hoping to take this a step further in 2021 through a new partnership that Sedex has set up with the Higg Co High Facility Environmental module which will help strengthen environmental sustainability insights and improve performance and supply chain transparency. This is an exciting development and we are currently looking at the potential to access this Environmental module. We are of course, committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and achieving incremental reduction targets annually.