Marshalls’ Harrop awarded Game Changer Accolade

Chris Harrop, Marshalls’ group marketing director, responsible for sustainability, has been awarded a prestigious BITC’s Game Changer accolade.

The one-off Game Changers accolade has been developed to recognise and celebrate the critical role that individuals from business have played in driving forward the responsible business movement.

This award honours 123 professionals that have been most influential and transformed the responsible business agenda over the last thirty years.

Under Harrop’s direction Marshalls became a member of BITC in 2007 and a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact in 2009.

The impact of his work spans both corporate and product sustainability in the UK and overseas; from reducing Marshalls’ environmental impact, being the first in the world at the time to carbon footprint over 3500 products, developing products which alleviate flood risks, driving a programme of human rights impact assessments, ethicising the supply chains, delivering the first ethical stone product range to market, and working with a range of actors overseas to improve working conditions and provide community programmes in India, China and Vietnam, including combating child labour, workers’ rights, education, pay and conditions, women’s empowerment and health programmes.

Graham Holden, Marshalls chief executive said: “Chris has worked long and hard to develop the sustainability agenda within Marshalls and to drive positive change within the organisation and throughout the wider landscaping sector.

“I’m delighted that his passion and drive have been recognised by BITC in this very public way. Under Chris’s guidance, Marshalls really is delivering on its promise of “Creating Better Landscapes”, socially, environmentally and economically.”

Harrop says: “It’s fantastic that this Game Changer Award acknowledges and recognises the individuals who continually push the boundaries and challenge their organisations to do more. I count myself very fortunate to be in a position to influence and drive the sustainability agenda and to work within my areas of influence to shift corporate responsibility from niche to mainstream.

“There is much still to be done, but it really is great to take a moment to recognise the contribution that I’ve been able to make. It’s really very satisfying to have this acknowledgement from BITC for my contribution in the field of responsible business.”