Over our 50 trading years, Systematic has always aimed to do the right thing, to be good, do good and share good outcomes with the community.

So, when we’re asked, “Are you B Corp certified?”, it’s a fair and important question. The short answer is no. The longer answer reveals more about who we are and the values that shape our commitment to sustainability.

So why not B Corp?

We believe that being a sustainably business is a destination that several paths can lead to; not a competition about which route is the best. And with the urgency of the climate crisis and ongoing social inequality, progress matters more than process.

For us, B Corp certification wouldn’t drive further change – it would formalise steps we’re already taking. Instead, we’ve chosen to invest our time and resources in the frameworks and actions we believe make the biggest difference. That doesn’t mean we stand apart from the B Corp community. Quite the opposite, we stand with them, united in the goal of doing better business.

Respect where it’s due

We have complete admiration for those UK organisations that have worked hard to become certified to the Benefit Corporation’s (B Corp) model, since the movement launched in the UK in 2015. If you’re one of them, we recognise and respect all your hard work in getting there.

Values that resonate with us

• Balancing profit with purpose: This was the mission of the founders of B Corp in 2006 and we applaud it.
• Embracing transparency and accountability: Sustainability is complex. What ‘good’ looks like can vary depending on your perspective. That’s why we welcome external scrutiny – not for the red tape, but for the clarity, benchmarking, and guidance it offers. Third-party validation ensures we’re not just saying the right things, but doing them.

Our action

ISO certifications: We’ve been independently certified for quality and environmental responsibility for decades. ISO 9001 came first in 1992, followed by ISO 14001 in 2009. This gave us the structure to continually reduce our carbon footprint. The global certification body NQA assess whether they can recertify us every three years, and we have annual monitoring visits. Since 2009 our actions range from phasing out fossil fuels and switched to a fully electric vehicle fleet, to ensuring that all the packaging we purchase is recyclable.

Full carbon footprinting: We believe you can only manage what you measure. That’s why we report on all our direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions – Scopes 1, 2 and 3 – using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Our annual Carbon Footprint Reports are verified by independent auditors at Auditel.

Good Business Charter accreditation: We found alignment with the Good Business Charter in 2023, when our in-house agency oodle began working with them. Their 10 commitments – covering areas like the real Living Wage, environmental responsibility, fair tax, ethical sourcing, and prompt payment – echo values we’ve always held. Accreditation gave us a clearer voice for those values and continues to inspire us through shared best practice.

Always improving

Continuous improvement is at the heart of our strategy. Recognition from forums like the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards gives us a valuable nudge to keep going. In 2025, we were proud to receive both the HETA Green Sustainability Award and the overall Forrester Boyd Business Excellence Award. We must be doing different things, yet in the future, we hope that everyone will share these values and embed them in their strategy, requiring less of a prompt from external frameworks.

Let’s keep the conversation going

Whether you already work with us or are just getting to know Systematic, we welcome questions about how we live our values. Our Environmental Statement is updated annually, and you’ll find regular updates on our website and social media channels.

We’re an open (paper) book – and always happy to share the data, thinking and plans behind our sustainability journey.