Celebrating 10 years of a sustainable journey

Friends House (London) Hospitality Ltd this week celebrated ten years of running a successful ethical, fair and sustainable business. The Deputy Mayor of Camden, Richard Cotton, joined customers, Quakers, press, partners and suppliers to mark “Putting faith back into business”. They met in The Light auditorium, in Friends House, the central offices of Quakers in Britain (external link).

Friends House (London) Hospitality Ltd is the sole trading company of Quakers in Britain.

A success built on Quaker values

This success has built on foundations laid by Quaker businesses over the centuries: fairness, transparency, quality and trust. In 2011, Quakers decided to become a low-carbon community and to encourage each other to live sustainably. A pledge which directly reflected in the company’s sustainable journey. During the celebration, Carbon Smart (external link) awarded Friends House with a Gold Certification, as it reduced its carbon footprint by 29 percent, since 2009. Green initiatives led to this achievement, including using 100 percent renewable energy and a zero waste to landfill policy.

Val Brittin, Chair of the Board of Directors, opened the event, saying, “Our business success is underpinned by our Quaker values and commitments. We believe being ethical, fair and sustainable is the only way to do good business in an ever-changing world.” Finger food, prepared in-house, with ethically sourced products, was served to guests.

Why being sustainable matters

Andy Pag, adventurer (external link)defined sustainability as using resources responsibly. He spoke about bio-fuel. He drove around the world using recycled cooking oil as fuel.

Paul Grey, Chief Executive Officer of Friends House (London) Hospitality: “While many people have lost faith in business, we say that profit doesn’t always have to be made at the expense of people or our environment.”

Contributing to Quaker work for peace and social justice

This year the company will gift-aid £816K to support the work of Quakers in Britain. Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain: “Quakers are proud of what our hospitality company demonstrates – that it is possible to run a business on faith principles. The Quaker values run through our company and its trading practices. And its profits support Quaker action for peace and social justice and help to sustain 480 Quaker meetings around Britain.”