While the rail strikes may have scuppered plans to host a special edition of its industry discussion sessions last week, Talking Tables still managed to find a means of celebrating the end of B Corp month with the launch of its first ever Impact Report.
Showcasing the breadth and depth of its commitment to people, planet, and purpose to drive profit, the Talking Tables 2022 Impact Report offers a clear and concise summary of the journey the team is on that culminated with an official B Corp certification last year.
Led by its founder Clare Harris, the team has delivered a report focusing the cornerstones of its business, including people, community, volunteering efforts, its partnership with Ecologi, its commitment to reduced impact in its products, and its engagement with suppliers.
Various highlights from the report include the company’s official welcome to the B Corp club in September 2022, as well as achieving Great Place to Work status voted for by 75% of its workforce. Its aim is to hit 80% for 2023. From an environmental perspective, 91% of Talking Tables’ autumn/winter 2022 collection was single-use plastic free while the team continues to work ensure its product is either recyclable or reusable.
“Our first Impact Report is an extremely important step for us in that it ensures that we are transparent with our customers about our achievements and challenges. It also sets out our aims in terms or areas of direction and targets for the coming year; from increasing our community activity to sourcing closer to home,” said Clare Harris, founder of Talking Tables.
Talking Tables currently works with the recycling group, First Mile to recycle as much as it can at its head office. Everyone who joins the Talking Tables team is taken through a recycling induction and the team reports monthly on how it is doing. Last year, the business achieved a 77% recycling rate. For 2023, Talking Tables is targeting 80%.
Meanwhile, the team also works with Ecologi to plant trees through projects involving local people around the world. To date, the company has planted 15,397 trees with Ecologi.
The 2022 Impact Report also highlights the work Talking Tables does to engage suppliers in a journey of sustainable development through a Supplier Code of Conduct called The Talking Tables Way. Covering people, safety, and the environment, 100% of Talking Tables’ suppliers are signed up to the Code.
Supplier highlights of the past year include 80% of factory water being recycled at one factory via a water purifier, while 1,848 solar panels have been installed at another factory site. New for 2023, Talking Tables has added a section around sustainability, including collaborating with its supply base on its carbon impact and net zero targets. Areas to be included in this are water management, waste management, hazardous waste management, and chemical controls.
Last year, the business achieved a score of 87.5 in the B Corp application process, surpassing the minimum requirement of a score of 80 to be officially certified as a B Corp operation.
“It’s been a milestone year for Talking Tables,” continued Clare. “In September, we received our B Corp accreditation, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
“We also achieved Great Place to Work status. We were especially happy to achieve this endorsement as it is based on the results of an independent employee engagement survey and provides a benchmark for us to improve upon.
“But what makes us most happy is making connections with and between people. Like when we hosted our first community event at our head office; a summer party in association with the charity Lifeline for the elderly local Clapham community.
“Talking Tables fundamentally believes that time together is the best of times, but we recognise that not everyone has the opportunity to gather together. We are committed to giving the experience of gatherings to more people, including those with less opportunity to get-together.”
The Talking Tables 2022 Impact Report can be viewed online here.
