Bicester PR firm Lemongrass hails 'B Corp' certification

Bicester-based travel PR firm Lemongrass revealed it has achieved B Corp status to "provide a positive response to the climate crisis as well as promote positive social change".

The B Corp certification process sees a company's environmental, social, and governance practices assessed and companies that apply need to achieve an impact score of 80+.

READ MORE: Lemongrass Marketing to move to four day week model

Lemongrass, which has 15 employees, said it scored 96.2 from B Corp for its contributions.

As part of the process, the team, led by head of sustainability Victoria Martinelli, implemented a range of initiatives, including reducing its carbon footprint, minimising waste, and supporting the local community.

It set a target to facilitate 25% of all press trips and business trips by train, ferry or electric car and as an impact company donates 5% of its revenue in pro bono work to The Conscious Travel Foundation, a non-profit membership community

Lemongrass said it also switched banking to the ethical bank Triodos, while no company funds are invested in fossil fuels.

In July this year, Lemongrass also formally announced the move to a four-day week, meaning staff could choose to use their day off to volunteer or campaign for a good cause. In October, it launched the first 'Travel with Purpose Media Roadshow' for responsible and regenerative travel brands.

The team travelled around the UK and Ireland by train, bus, ferry and EV to meet with over 100 leading travel journalists, saving 586kg of carbon, the equivalent of eight flights from London to Paris. It also planted 112 trees for every journalist meeting taken.

"We decided to become a B Corp as we wanted to provide a positive response to the climate crisis as well as promote positive social change," said Mirjam Peternek McCartney, founder and CEO of Lemongrass Marketing.

"Tourism - if done right - can reduce poverty and social inequality as well as support nature and wildlife conservation. Becoming a B Corp allows us to positively contribute towards that.

"Becoming a B Corp also means creating a good workplace where employees are valued, and supported and where their voice matters. Winning the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award this year is also a testament to that," she added.

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