ImagesMagUK_December_2020

IS www.images-magazine.com 32 images DECEMBER 2020 ECOWEAR R owlinson Knitwear became a B Corporation in August 2020, joining a global community of businesses committed to having a positive impact on workers, communities and the environment. While this accreditation may have been acquired relatively recently, it was founded on principles that have underpinned the company for much longer, notes chair Donald Moore. Inspired by the devastation caused by the 2008 financial crash, Rowlinson’s management decided to challenge the classic model of shareholder primacy and “put people and customers before profit”, Donald explains. One of the first members of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, it offers the higher real Living Wage and a raft of staff benefits, and It’s about leaving the world in a better place Being better Rowlinson Knitwear is part of a growing number of companies committed to sustainability as a B Corporation. Mark Ludmon reports in 2015 it became employee owned. “We started to do really well as a by- product of that so when we didn’t focus on profit we actually started to make a lot more profit,” Donald adds. “Culturally, we just do what we think is the right thing to do.” A commitment to sustainability This approach is part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, which is further reflected by other initiatives and accreditations, such as signing up to The Planet Mark programme and taking part in the annual Climate Crisis Day. It is also a full member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which improves the rights and wellbeing of workers in supply chains – in Rowlinson’s case, its tier one suppliers in Bangladesh, Egypt and the Philippines. “People in the decorating market seem to think that sustainability is all about using organic cotton or recycled materials, but it’s not,” says Donald. “It’s about people and the planet and leaving the world in a better place.” Rowlinson found out about B Corp last year and, because the company had so many of the measured criteria in place already, achieved certification – with a high score of 107 – in just 18 months. The certification process was led by a team of 10 employees, dubbed the B Responsible Group, The team at Rowlinson Knitwear signed the Climate Emergency Declaration as part of last year’s Climate Crisis Day