An East Yorkshire manufacturer has become one of the most sustainable in its sector.
Bartoline has secured gold in the EcoVadis supply chain monitoring, two years on from setting an ambitious target when it claimed bronze. It factors in a host of international sustainable standards, and places the Beverley firm in the top five per cent of paints, varnishes and coatings producers.
The Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact, and ISO 26000 standard all form part of the methodology, with 21 criteria across core themes of environment, labour and human rights, ethics and procurement.
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Managing director Paul Robbins said: “Personally, I am really pleased with everyone’s contribution to making improvements across the business.
“Receiving an external endorsement with a reputable leader such as EcoVadis reinforces our credibility and trust that our customers and suppliers can have in our business systems.”
The decorating sundries producer was established in 1876, and now produces ready-mix and powder fillers, wallcovering adhesives, paint strippers and sealants.
Endless LLP-managed fund Enact II swooped for the £22 million turnover business in March 2021, with the long-running family ownership coming to a close.
Last year, the well-known decorating sundries brand launched a new over-the-counter trade range called 1876 The Professional Range for distribution through builders’ merchants. It highlighted the British heritage, with all products developed and manufactured in the UK at its two production plants in Beverley, one of which has the largest production capacity for liquid filling in Europe.
Alan Garrigan, Bartoline’s head of business systems and improvement, said: “We have made vast progress in our approach to improve policies, actions and results across each of the four pillars. Our significant strengthening in labour and human rights and the environment has been a fundamental step to achieving the gold rating and we are delighted to have accomplished this award in such a short, projected timeframe.”