SUSTAINABILITY - PEOPLE

At Smythson, our goal is to offer exceptional, luxury products while contributing towards conserving our world for generations to come.

We recognise that people play a critical role in our success and, as a collective, we have a responsibility towards our employees, colleagues, supply chain partners, customers, and the wider communities in which we operate.

By working together to integrate sound sustainable practices into every aspect of our business, we can strive to achieve the highest quality standards, drive sustainable outcomes, and minimise the environmental impact of our operations.

People

Planet

Product

PEOPLE

For over a century, our artisans, employees, and partners have been central to our enduring legacy, craftmanship and identity. Today these same people remain a core pillar of the business and the way we work with them is strengthened by the guidance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, a global goal to encourage healthy lives and the promotion of wellbeing for all at all ages.

In Action:

In response to the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, we took steps to raise awareness and offer support for mental health by appointing trained Mental Health Champions. We invest in training and development to help our teams grow both personally and professionally, including modules on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Modern Slavery Awareness. Through sustainability workshops, training, and ongoing learning opportunities, we foster an environment where knowledge and expertise can thrive.

Wellbeing is a core part of our culture. We promote health, inclusivity, and work-life balance, ensuring every employee feels valued and supported. With engagement initiatives such as an anonymous feedback forum and a culture of open communication, we strive to create an inclusive workplace where people can flourish.

In Action:

We maintain a long-standing partnership with the National Literacy Trust, an independent charity working with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children essential literacy skills. We have increased our annual contribution, with 10% of sales from a selection of our Christmas cards being donated to the NLT in support of our mutual mission for literacy access and educational empowerment.

We have also collaborated with the Royal Warrant Holders Association Charity Fund to make a combined donation that enabled the NLT to recruit Literacy Champion Volunteers in the Swindon area, helping to expand access to literacy resources.

In addition, we donated a selection of seconds stock toFight for Sight, a leading UK charity with a mission to save 'Save Sight. Change Lives.' Proceeds from the donated stock will help to fund sight-saving science and life-changing social projects for people living with vision loss, while extending the life of our products.

At Smythson, we are proud to be members of Positive Luxury and hold the Butterfly Mark – an internationally recognised symbol of commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. We undergo a rigorous reassessment process every two years to maintain this certification, ensuring we remain aligned with evolving industry standards and customer expectations.

We are also a Contributing Partner of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, supporting global efforts to promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the leather industry. As part of this partnership, we have hosted collaborative training workshops and are committed to running more to support ongoing shared learning.

Our supply chain relationships are built on mutual trust, shared values, and a common vision for a more responsible future. Through joint training, regular roundtables, and open collaboration, we work to uphold high standards across all stages of our production, honouring Frank Smythson's legacy of craftsmanship while embracing the responsibilities of a modern brand.