OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Accouter is a part of Accouter Group of Companies
Since 2012 we have been on a mission to be the best furnishing and interior provider on the planet and now we are on a mission to make the planet a better place too. In 2023, we were proud to become part of Britain's first B Corp certified interior design collective. As a future-focused collective, we realised how much difference we could be making on eco and social levels. So instead of sustaining and maintaining our performance, Accouter prioritised plans to regenerate and commence a never-ending journey towards 'sustainability' and do our bit to make the planet a better place for every being.
Through initiatives with our teams, customers, our supply chain, the wider community, and by being transparent and accountable, we are are healing more than just the environment and each step of the way, proving to you that the breathtaking world of interiors can also be a beneficially breathtaking world.
WHAT IS B CORP?
B Corps are defined as businesses that want to achieve more than just making a profit. Their company goals and values are committed to creating a positive impact on their employees, communities, clients and suppliers throughout their strategic decisions and operations.
AS BRITAINS FIRST B CORP CERTIFIED INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO:
We commit to proving to you that we can make a positive impact on the world by acting and evolving as a responsible company.
We pledge to play our part in building an industry that is filled with, and supports talent from all backgrounds, abilities, ages and identities.
We believe in the power of kindness, and pledge to use the powers of our business to create a positive impact on society. We support the Red Cross and charities that mean the most to our people.
We understand that being a ‘Force for Good’ is a journey without a destination and we are committed to continuously improve and evolve our business for good. For more information regarding our B Corp journey please click here.
In parallel with our desire to continuously create new and innovative designs, our pledge towards sustainability is an equally evolving journey.
We are constantly looking for ways to develop our awareness and knowledge of sustainability within the interior design industry. Understanding the increasingly important role we play in protecting the planet, has encouraged us to focus our efforts on introducing an increasing amount of sustainable measures.
We are investing in the future, and our dedicated ‘Eco-Warrior’ team will direct our efforts on measures that deliver the biggest impacts, aiming to continuously review and improve AGC’s environmental performance with an emphasis on minimising any destructive environmental impact.
Sustainability measures have already seen us achieve our ISO14001 Environmental certification, and we are committed to obtaining our B Corp certification. In addition, we are proud to partner with Walpole and its members to work towards a shared ambition of creating a more sustainable industry for the top British Luxury Brands.
HOW WE ACHIEVED A CARBON NEUTRAL 2022
In accordance with AGC’s Sustainability manifesto and our ambition to safeguard the environment and preserve its natural resources, we have undertaken a thorough Scope 1 & 2 carbon audit of our 2022 operations.
2022 OFFSET
Our Offset Strategy revolves around investing in Forest Carbon’s gold standard re-afforestation projects. Through these investments, we actively contribute to projects both within the UK and internationally, resulting in an immediate impact on achieving carbon neutrality. Furthermore, these initiatives allow us to store carbon credits for the future, reinforcing our commitment to long-term sustainability.
NEXT STEPS
Pioneering the industry by setting ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions by 2033.
Align with the Scope 1 and 2 requirements of the SBTI (Science Based Targets initiative).
Dedicated to ongoing education of our supply chains and collaboration with industry bodies to facilitate the collection of Scope 3 emission data.
OUR 2022 CARBON OFFSET STRATEGY
International at Uruguay
40 tonnes CO2e Forestal el Arriero
International at Bolivia
40 tonnes CO2e Cochabamba
UK
50 tonnes CO2e
PARTNERING WITH FOREST CARBON
Forest Carbon leads the way in developing woodland creation and peatland restoration projects for carbon capture and ecosystem services in the UK. They have planted over 10.3 million new trees in 220+ new woodlands since 2006 with their partners removing over 2.1 million tonnes of CO2e from the atmosphere, as well as providing a host of other benefits to society, including habitat creation, biodiversity support, flood mitigation, river ecosystem improvement and public access. Outside of the UK their partners have offset a further 1 million tonnes CO2 and protected or planted in excess of 3 million trees.
UK
We have joined their Carbon Club 50, through which we will be responsible for planting around 200 trees each year. These trees will grow in permanent new woodlands at Doddington in Northumberland, Corriechuillie in the Scottish Highlands and Tom’s Wood near York in North Yorkshire. They will accrue 50 carbon credits per year over time to address 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Once fully grown these trees will capture a considerable proportion of our annual carbon emissions and help us on our journey to net zero.
BOLIVIA - TSB AT COCHABAMBA
Forest Carbon’s first non-UK project was Cochabamba, in Bolivia. As well as capturing CO2 the project will help halt the aggressive deforestation that has been occurring in this area of the western Amazon Rainforest and also save CO2 losses there. The overall project aims for:
Improved and sustainable land use with a total participation of 2,000 smallholders and over 2,700 site
On-farm establishment of 5,000 has of small scale mixed native species forestry plantations
On-farm establishment of 1,000 hectares of agroforestry or silvo-pastoral plantations
Production of a continuous flow of export quality hardwood timber and improved market access
Livelihood improvement through incomes generated from the sale of plantation timber under fair trade conditions.
The project is quality assured under the Gold Standard, one of the world’s leading independent carbon and climate change project certification standards.
URUGUAY - FORESTAL EL ARRIERO
This project represents the conversion of land in the east of Uruguay previously under extensive grazing by beef cattle to high quality and high value timber production, expected to be used for long-lived products and so ensuring continued carbon storage. Forests are replanted after felling, providing continuous rotations of carbon capture.
The projects contribute to sustainable development in Uruguay, mainly through
Increased employment and quality of employment
Rural development (decentralization)
Improved national balance of payments through exports and value-added activity in country
Biodiversity preservation
Improvement and preservation of soil quality