Specialist label printer KCS Print has received B Corporation (B Corp) certification from B Lab UK, meaning it has met rigorous social and environmental standards laid out by the movement.

The B Corps movement prioritises and pursues purpose over profit. Certified companies are verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. B Corp certification addresses the entirety of business operations and covers five key impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. Having delivered on these requirements, KCS Print is now part of a community of 7000 businesses globally that have been certified as B Corps. In the UK alone, the B Corp community represents a cross-section of industries and sizes and is comprised of more than 1400 companies. This includes well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and Abel & Cole.

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said, ‘This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that KCS Print is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.’

KCS Print manufactures a range of specialist products, including integrated labels for e-commerce despatch and returns labels, pathology labels and blood tags for NHS trusts and logistics forms. Digitally printed food and drink labels are produced by the company’s roll label division, Root Sustainable Labels, using a Xeikon 3500 press with A B Graphic (ABG) Digicon 3 finishing line. Labels are offered on sustainable materials from 100% recycled plastics to recycled papers with home compostable adhesives.

Such production is highlighted by KCS Print managing director Zoe Deadman as exampling that, ‘Sustainability is at the core of what we do as a company. This huge achievement will push us to do more internally to practice what we preach whilst also advocating for the print industry to deliver higher standards across the board.’

Mr Turner concluded, ‘Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming KCS Print is an exciting moment because it has an opportunity to lead the way within the label printing industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support KCS Print in paving the way for a new way of doing things. Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.’