Partner Article

Jermyn Street Design celebrates becoming a Certified B Corporation

Jermyn Street Design (JSD), an industry leader in bespoke uniform design, production, and management whose sustainability credentials have been inherent since its founder worked with Body Shop under Dame Anita Roddick in 1994 on their eco-uniform project, has announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp).

The multi million pound custom uniforms and ethical workwear clothing business, who is a member of  Common Objective (CO), the leading global sustainable sourcing platform, is celebrating achieving this certification a year ahead of its own net-zero targets and is delighted to have now been verified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement.

With sustainability having been at the core of the business for 4 decades the B Corp certification came from the business committing to their “JSD Green Thread” – JSD’s environmental, social governance - to ensure that their corporate responsibility is practical and reported with complete transparency. The achievement demonstrates that JSD meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability alongside a commitment to goals beyond shareholder value.

JSD is delighted to have been recognised for the impact they are already making with their sustainability commitments, but they are also still working towards further goals which include reducing its Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions to Net-Zero by 2040, and Scope 3 emissions by 2050; producing a minimum 80% of garments using sustainable materials, methods and sources by the end of 2025; and to be able to offer traceability and end of life solutions for all products by the end of 2025.

Achieving B Corp Certification was important to JSD to help illustrate their social and environmental responsibility, showing a commitment to high ethical standards, building consumer confidence, which will also further attract investors, and they also hope it will also attract employees whose values align with theirs. 

Whilst all of these elements were already in place, and indeed have been what led to JSD achieving the Certification, JSD has now formalised its commitment to social and environmental impact, for improved sustainability practices, enhanced employee wellbeing, and stronger community engagement. 

They are setting out to be even more transparent in their operations, sharing detailed impact metrics with stakeholders and are committed to enhanced governance, ensuring all business decisions align with their mission, values, and impact goals. 

“Whilst the legalities and governance are key for us to demonstrate our impact one of the really key things for us moving forward, which we’ve wholeheartedly taken from this process, is our ongoing commitment to making sure our employees feel a part of the bigger picture”, said JSD M.D, Ann Dowdeswell.

“At JSD, people have always been at the heart of what we do. Becoming B Corp certified gave us the opportunity to look even more closely at how we support and uplift our team - not just through workplace policies, but by fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. The process challenged us to deepen our commitment to well-being across every part of the business, encouraging greater transparency, collaboration, and shared purpose.”

“We’re proud to be part of a growing movement of businesses that prioritise people and the planet alongside profit. B Corp is more than a certification - it’s a reflection of our values and a formal commitment to operating responsibly, ethically, and sustainably. For us, it means continually evolving how we work, always looking for new ways to support our team, reduce our environmental footprint, and create a positive impact for the communities we serve. As a purpose-driven business, we’re focused on long-term, meaningful change - and we’re taking our people with us on that journey. At JSD, sustainability isn’t a separate initiative - it’s woven into everything we do.”

"Becoming B Corp certified wasn’t just a milestone - it was a natural step in living out our values. It reinforces our commitment to making thoughtful, responsible decisions - not only for the planet, but for every individual who wears our designs. From material choices to supply chain ethics and inclusive design, well-being is built into everything we create. We design uniforms for real people at work, and that means considering the full picture of their experience: how they feel in what they wear, how our choices impact their day-to-day comfort and confidence, and how we can positively contribute to their working lives.” said Ann.

Ann also believes that it’s crucial to make it easy for brands to transition to more sustainable choices, even if that has not been part of their process previously. “Sustainable uniforms and other custom workwear are making an increasingly visible contribution to the circular economy – from eco-aware designs and responsible manufacture to planned end-of-life disposal. Our resources and adaptable approach make it possible for brands to start the migration of staff uniforms to sustainable workwear clothing today, without disruption or waste, in a managed, step-by-step transition.”

Ann added: “Sustainability is at the core of what we do. For us, sustainability isn’t just about reducing impact - it’s about creating value for people. That includes wearers, clients, our own team, and the wider community. We’re proud to lead by example, proving style, function, and responsibility can go hand in hand. Seeing our sustainable uniforms worn by train, airline, retail or hospitality  makes me very proud, knowing that we are supporting people and the planet at the same time”, she said.

JSD’s Green Thread Sustainability brings together valuable industry insights, practices, accreditations, and other ongoing, industry-leading Sustainability Initiatives. Audits, metrics, workshops and other practical tools and initiatives cover all stages of the workwear lifecycle – from custom uniform design and sourcing through manufacturing and distribution to garment care, End-Of-Life Disposal and Beyond.

JSD is now part of a growing community of businesses globally that have certified as B Corps alongside the likes of The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely, The Big Issue, Finisterre, Elemis, and Sipsmith Gin. The certification process is rigorous, with companies required to provide evidence on performance while legally embedding their commitment to purpose as well as profit in their company articles. 

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jermyn Street Design to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that JSD is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.”

With a team of 38, JSD works with world leading brands in 80+ countries across the globe. Trusted by clients such as global sports organisations and associations, and brands such as Jet2, Butlin’s, First Group, Historic Royal Palaces, Pure Gym, Lancôme and Nuffield Health, JSD provides branded clothing for their teams and colleagues, with a focus on individuality, diversity at the forefront, with the philosophy that ‘no-one is uniform’.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chocolate PR .