Company of Connect Yorkshire EIR Simon Biltcliffe, Webmart has today been honoured with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category, following three decades of innovation in low-carbon, impact-led marketing.
From our humble beginnings, Webmart has evolved from a print specialist into an integrated sustainable marketing agency spanning print, mail, creative, data and digital, with a mission to “do good, be good” and deliver the most sustainable marketing possible.
In 2025, we embeded sustainability into our Articles of Association, and we use our proprietary IEF (intellectual, emotional, financial) framework to assess decisions through an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) lens as well as a commercial one.
And as a certified B Corp, we’ve been recognised for our measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, innovative carbon-calculation tools and our long-term commitment to turning “income into impact” for people and the planet.
Measurable climate impact
We’ve cut our own scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 70% since 2021 by switching to 100% renewable electricity and a fully electric fleet, leaving an independently verified operational footprint of just 39 tonnes CO2e per year. Our focus for further reductions is now on our wider value chain, where we measure and manage around 10,000 tonnes CO2e of scope 3 emissions linked to client campaigns.
Using our EcoMetrics carbon calculator and Enviromail postage service, Webmart has enabled clients’ campaigns to offset 3,000 tonnes of CO2e through high‑quality Gold VER‑accredited carbon projects. These tools support a structured approach of “calculate, mitigate, offset, communicate,” enabling clients to trial lower‑impact formats, change substrates, reduce delivery mileage and transparently report campaign emissions.
We also own – and we’re actively rewilding – a 164-acre ‘Oxygen Farm’ forest in Scotland. Under a 200-year agreement, we’re recreating a Caledonian forest with thousands of trees, over 20 ponds and nature trails that enhance biodiversity and sequester carbon.
Our environmental leadership has already been recognised through multiple awards, including Environmental Company of the Year at the Printweek Awards and SME of the Year at the 2026 edie Awards.
Helping people and communities
We share all of our surplus profits with employees through a profit‑sharing scheme. This results in strong retention, with an average tenure of over nine years on the customer service team.
We invest £500 per person per year in training, providing up to £500 per person for mental health and counselling services, and have been a four‑time consecutive winner of People Insight’s Outstanding Workplace Award.
Webmart has also given more than £1,000,000 to charities across the UK.
This is funded through passive income and directed via an employee‑led charity committee. Every team member is also offered a paid volunteering day and an accompanying donation. Through our impact‑driven campaigns and carbon projects, we support communities globally, including reforestation in Nicaragua, clean cookstoves in Rwanda and wind energy projects in India.
Leading the way in sustainable marketing
Webmart plays an active role in driving sustainability standards across the marketing and print ecosystem. Its CCO, Tom Maskill, chairs PrintGreen, a cross-industry nonprofit that unites UK trade bodies to share best practices and provide free carbon tools and guidance to the sector. CEO Kelly O’Sullivan chairs the DMA Print Council, helping to drive sustainability up the agenda for brands and agencies across the UK.
Our leadership in carbon literacy and best practice sees the team regularly speaking at UK and European conferences, universities and industry events. We have also co‑founded local B Corp groups to share learning across the wider business community.
Webmart’s initiatives support multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a primary focus on Climate Action and Life on Land, as well as wider goals through charitable giving and community partnerships.
Gemma Collings, Finance Director at Webmart, said:
“Turning income into impact is integral to every decision we make. It shows up in how we invest in our people, in our SBTi commitments and Oxygen Farm in Scotland, and in the charity partnerships and industry collaborations that extend our impact beyond our own four walls. To be recognised with a King’s Award is a real honour and a reflection of what’s possible when we all pull in the same direction.”
Kelly O’Sullivan, CEO at Webmart, said:
“Winning a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development is an incredible honour for everyone at Webmart. It recognises a 30-year journey to prove that marketing can drive both commercial results and climate action. This award belongs to our brilliant team, our clients who back bold ideas and the communities and partners we work with every day.”
Tom Maskill, Chief Client Officer at Webmart, added:
“Sustainability is the backbone of our business model. We are constantly innovating to reduce the marketing industry’s carbon footprint. This Award will help us scale this impact further, support more clients on their decarbonisation pathways and inspire others across our industry to raise their sustainability ambitions.”
Representatives from Webmart will attend a Royal reception later this year to formally recognise the King’s Award for Enterprise recipients. The business will then host an official award presentation at its Bicester head office, with a special visit from The King’s Lord‑Lieutenant, to personally present the commemorative crystal trophy and Grant of Appointment on behalf of His Majesty, The King.
Dr Simon Biltcliffe, Founder of Webmart, concluded:
“In 1996, when I founded the business, I wanted to build a different kind of agency. One that proved it’s possible to succeed commercially while doing the right thing for people and planet. Seeing that original vision recognised with a King’s Award is a proud moment for me and everyone who has played a part in our story.”
Article via webmartuk.com
