The home of Creativity
Colart, the world’s leading manufacturer of art materials, is championing a greener approach to creativity. Now B Corp certified, the company has solidified its commitment to balancing people, planet and profit. In an exclusive interview with Inside Sustainability, Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer Sara Brennan and Global Sustainability Manager Ajita Chamberlin shed light on this transformative journey. Report by Imogen Ward.
Backed by five inspiring fine art brands and a rich history dating all the way back to the 18th century, Colart is globally renowned within the art scene. This reputation affords the company a unique platform to drive meaningful change.
“As manufacturers of art materials, we understand our business and products impact society,” explained Sara Brennan, Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer. “We embraced the B Corp Impact Assessment to gain a clearer understanding and push ourselves further.”
Despite no art company achieving B Corp certification before, Colart’s confidence in its sustainability journey sets it apart.
Colart’s path to certification began with its parent company Lindéngruppen’s Value Creation Model, which measures the balance of economic, social and environmental impact.
“This model allows us to quantify our true value,” Ajita Chamberlin, Global Sustainability Manager explained. “It’s helping us to think differently about ESG and integrate these conversations across the business. The industry often focuses on just profitability, we hope to reach the point one day that, by being more sustainable, our company will be more profitable as well.”
Starting in mid-2022, Colart completed its B Corp certification by May 2023, including all five brands (Winsor & Newton, Liquitex, Lefranc Bourgeois, Conté à Paris and Charbonnel) in the process. “This was a real achievement for us,” said Ms Chamberlin.
“We made meaningful improvements, such as aligning our employee benefits across the business and formalising governance processes to take things to the next level,” Ms Brennan said. “Of course, sustainability is
something we are still considering as we move forward; with every department taking respon sibility for their individual roles in our goal to be greener, we want it to be embedded in the business rather than its own silo.”
The certification process was collaborative, involving stakeholders across operations, finance and other teams. “Like any major business initiative, we built a case with clear return-on-investment metrics,” added Ms Brennan.
Innovating for the Future
Looking ahead, Colart is set to launch its ‘Creating Impact’ sustainability roadmap in 2025. This ambitious plan will focus on exploring the ways in which Colart can create value, nurture a more sustainable culture and establish circularity. In doing so, the company intends to evolve and enhance its current goals setting science-based targets for carbon reduction, the first in its industry to do so.
The company is also aware that a significant portion of its carbon production occurs externally, with its suppliers and partners. To overcome this, Colart has begun formally requesting data from these companies to identify opportunities for improvement together. This will also remain an important focus throughout 2025, as Colart continues to help its partners become greener.
“A lot of our suppliers already consider ESG and already have to comply with CSRD requirements,” explained Ms Chamberlin. “That makes it easier for us to collect this information, because it is already there.”
acrylic paint line - an industry first - proving sustainability doesn’t have to mean compromising quality. Winsor & Newton has transitioned from virgin plastic to FSC-certified carboard packaging for its Promarkers, Fineliners and Studio Collection sets, while its pan sets now use 100% recycled content plastic.
“As a business, we have always been proud of our ability to innovate,” said Ms Brennan. “Several of our brands have been around since the 1800s, or earlier, and they are still here because of that innovative streak. Not only does this heritage allow us to stand out from the crowd, but it is also what is going to help us lead the way to a greener future.”
Impact Beyond Products
Colart is also keen on making a difference to people across the globe and has contributed to several important initiatives. In 2023 alone, the company donated nearly £500,000 worth of products to communities through its brands.
“Winsor & Newton developed a partnership with the mental health charity Hospital Rooms, which aims to bring creativity, colour, and kindness to mental health hospitals,” said Ms Chamberlin. “In 2023, we contributed more than £400,000 in art materials to fill boxes for more than 750 secure and day mental health hospitals across the UK.”
Adding to this, Ms Brennan said: “There’s a real credible link between art and mental health. It is so important for us as a company to get involved with a charity that is helping improve people’s wellbeing.”
Through its charity donation programme, which was set up in 2017, Colart also supports schools and other organisations, reinforcing its mission to inspire creativity globally.
The Road Ahead
With B Corp recertification on the horizon in 2026, Colart intends to continue donating to charitable organisations and initiatives, while also retaining its focus on the path to net zero.
“Everything we are implementing will help ensure that the recertification is achieved,” commented Ms Brennan. “Until then, I am really excited for the roll out of Creating
Impact, our new sustainability roadmap. Working collectively to embed sustainability is really going to make all the difference.”
“I am also incredibly enthusiastic about the road ahead, having dedicated many years to enhancing Colart’s sustainability,” said Ms Chamberlin, in conclusion. “We are now at a place where we are ready to take things to the next level, with an ambitious roadmap that we will roll out next year.”
