In March 2020 Ethical Consumer viewed the Baylis & Harding website for the company's environmental policy or report. An environmental policy was deemed necessary to report on a company's environmental performance and set targets for reducing its impacts in the future. A strong policy would include two future, quantified environmental targets, demonstration by the company that it had a reasonable understanding of its main environmental impacts, be dated within two years and have its environmental data independently verified.
The website had a page for the company's policies, as well as on sustainability which discussed installing water refill stations, electric vehicle charging points, and 'sustainable energy' for the building (although this was undefined. It also discussed the environmental impacts of its plastic packaging. However, the company did not discuss major impacts such as water and energy use in manufacturing, the sustainable sourcing of ingredients and the transportation of its products. It was not considered to demonstrate adequate understanding of its key environmental impacts.
Its 2020 Vision did not include any future, quantifiable environmental targets. No targets could be found elsewhere.
The information did not appear to be independently verified.
The company therefore received Ethical Consumer's worst rating for Environmental Reporting and lost a full mark in this category.
Reference:
baylisandharding.com (19 March 2020)