Smythson is a British luxury brand selling stationery and small leather goods across five retail locations within the UK and online. In 2025, Smythson adopted a stronger and more structured approach to sustainability focused on the areas most relevant to product integrity and operational impact: building assurance around materials and supply chain expectations, reducing packaging impacts, and prioritising practical efficiency measures across retail and operational sites. Together, these actions support stronger traceability and quality assurance, while responding to evolving expectations from customers and wider stakeholders.

External standards and partnerships

To reinforce a consistent baseline for governance and good practice, Smythson is a member of Positive Luxury and holds the Butterfly Mark, an independent sustainability certification for luxury brands that assesses performance environment, social impact, governance and sustainable innovation. Smythson is also a Contributing Partner of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, which works with industry stakeholders to improve accountability and transparency across leather supply chains. This engagement provides a platform for shared learning and practical capability building, including Smythson-hosted collaborative training workshops.

Packaging and product materials

In 2025, Smythson introduced 40% recycled-content paper for branded boxes and shopper bags provided with customer purchases, building on the earlier introduction of 60% recycled-content dust bags in 2023. All paper used for stationery, books, diaries and packaging is sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified suppliers, supporting responsible forest management with safeguards for biodiversity and local communities. Additionally, as of 2025, Smythson does not use PVC in any products or packaging. Together, these changes support reduced packaging waste and lower reliance on virgin materials.

Retail energy efficiency

Smythson progressed practical efficiency measures within its retail estate in 2025. At the Sloane Street flagship store, ceiling and fixture lighting was replaced with LEDs, with limited exceptions where there were installation constraints. A lighting survey was also conducted at the Swindon warehouse site to identify potential energy and cost savings and return-on-investment opportunities, supporting an evidence-led approach to prioritising future efficiency actions. This supports a more structured pathway for reducing energy use over time, while improving visibility on where operational changes can have the greatest impact.