A forward-thinking cleaning product brand has made use of support from Business Growth West Midlands in Dudley to accelerate their journey towards sustainability.
Dudley-based Iron & Velvet specialise in environmentally friendly cleaning products with no single-use plastics and eco-friendly ingredients that can be sustainably sourced. All of their products are vegan, low-carbon and zero-waste.
They made the significant shift to focusing exclusively on eco-friendly products five years ago, driven by the alarming statistic that only 9% of plastics are recycled worldwide. The zero-waste target is integral to their business’s ethos and commitment to environmental stewardship.
This required the daunting challenges of overhauling their supply chain and extensive research and development work to create sustainable but effective products. All packaging materials are now sourced locally, and everything from the machinery they use to the ingredients in their products is as eco-friendly as possible.
The business’s loyal customer base deeply values these sustainable practices and has steadfastly supported the business for years, recognising the positive impact their choices have on the planet.
Participation in the Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) in Dudley programme has significantly supported Iron & Velvet’s sustainability efforts, providing valuable connections to like-minded businesses and access to regional sustainability resources like the West Midlands Combined Authority Decarbonisation Programme.
Donna Watkins, Business Growth Adviser at Business Growth West Midlands in Dudley, said:
It was evident from first meeting Debra and the team that they wanted to do right by the environment and were committed to the local area, which is reflected in their values.
It's wonderful to see how they've fully embraced the business support that is available to them to take them on the next step of their growth journey.
As a sustainable business, accurately measuring emissions can be challenging, but getting it right is crucial when engaging with potential investment opportunities.
Following their participation in the Decarbonisation and Net Zero segment of the programme, the business can now confidently report that their type two emissions amount to a saving of 7.4 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Their Net Zero assessment showed that their annual manufacturing emissions output is less than that of an average adult in the UK.
Debra Glover, chief executive of Iron & Velvet, said:
We wholeheartedly endorse the Decarbonisation and Net Zero programme. The support we've received has been exceptional! We plan to continue leveraging this invaluable resource for as long as possible.
The lovely Donna is my advisor and has been just amazing helping us to access everything that we have. I've grabbed the support with both hands, and we've done pretty much everything.
I tallied it up the other day and there's about £10,000 worth of business advice in there that we've accessed for free. It's been fantastic.
For further information, please visit www.ironandvelvet.co.uk.
More details on Business Growth West Midlands in Dudley can be found at www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk.