An interview with 1% for the Planet business partner, Priory Direct

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policy is no longer optional – it's crucial. At A Good Thing CIC, we're seeing growing numbers of companies step up to make a tangible difference by thinking carefully about how they manage the ‘things’ they no longer need and how their profits can positively impact the planet and local people.

Priory Direct is the home of planet-friendly packaging. They are the leading UK supplier of planet friendly packaging products and are on a mission to minimise the environmental impact of eCommerce, with the ultimate goal of making it a fully sustainable industry. As an industry leader, they’re in a position to drive real, positive change by increasing awareness of sustainability, providing access to planet friendly packaging and authentically use their business as a vehicle for good.

Priory Direct’s sustainability mission and focus on change are at the heart of everything it does. It encourages every customer to join it on that journey. They have also committed to sharing one per cent of all its profits via the globally recognised 1% for the Planet certification.

Our Marketing and Communications Lead, Anna, and Priory Direct's Managing Director, Josh Pitman, recently met at a Better Business Network round table event. Josh, Anna and some of the team caught up over coffee and chatted about Priory’s mission and its involvement with these impactful organisations.

The Priory team: Chloe, Digital Marketing Manager, Charlie, Digital Marketing Assistant, and Nick Commercial Director

How long have you been a member of 1% for the Planet, and what motivated you to join?

We joined 1% for the Planet in 2020. For us, the future has to be green; otherwise, there won’t be much of a future to speak of. That’s why sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to reduce the environmental impact of e-commerce, and partnering with 1% for the Planet allows us to contribute to a wide network of non-profit eco-charities. By supporting these organisations, we’re helping to amplify their voices, making them stronger and more recognised. We’re incredibly proud to be part of this movement, using our business as a force for good.

What changes have you made to your business since joining 1% for the Planet?

Since joining 1% for the Planet, we've made several significant changes to our business. One of the biggest has been achieving B Corp certification. This certification process has ensured that we meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, aligning our operations more closely with our values. Additionally, we've made substantial progress in becoming carbon neutral. We've worked to measure and offset our carbon emissions, which has allowed us to effectively neutralise our carbon footprint. 

How have you engaged with the environmental partners at 1%, and what are your plans for your future?

We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with the Rainforest Trust, one of our key charity collaborators. Through this collaboration, we’ve managed to protect over 9,000,000m2 of threatened rainforest. A big part of this success comes from offering our customers the opportunity to protect 1,000 square metres of rainforest as a complimentary gift. It’s an honour to work with such an incredible organisation, supporting their mission to save endangered wildlife, preserve rainforests, and ultimately protect our planet. Looking ahead, we plan to deepen our engagement with our environmental partners at 1% for the Planet. Our goal is to expand our initiatives, increase our contributions, and continue leveraging our business to create meaningful, positive impact.

Why did you join the A Good Thing community? How does this relate to your green ethos and future green ambitions?

We joined the A Good Thing community, recognising that whilst we focus on minimising packaging waste, it’s important to also be conscious of product waste too. Electronic waste is the world’s fastest growing waste stream, so it’s great that A Good Thing provides a platform that we can easily donate any of our equipment and supplies we no longer use and match with companies and charities that need them instead.

If you’re a member of 1% for the Planet and want to know more about how to engage with A Good Thing, pop us a message.