In an inspiring demonstration that environmental responsibility and business success aren't mutually exclusive, Bath-based workplace design specialist Interaction has achieved something remarkable. The B Corp-certified company has slashed its carbon emissions by 31% over two years while simultaneously expanding into a larger headquarters and growing its workforce.

The numbers tell a compelling story of what's possible when sustainability becomes embedded in every business decision. Interaction reduced its total operational carbon footprint from 180,376 kgCO2 in 2022 to just 124,664 kgCO2 in 2024/25. What makes this achievement even more impressive is the context: during this same period, the company moved to The Quarter in Bath, nearly doubling their office space from 352 to 557 square metres, and grew their team from 54 to 60 employees.

Mike Borne, Head of Operations at Interaction, emphasizes the intentionality behind these results. "There's a perception that growth inevitably means higher emissions. Our experience shows the opposite can be true when sustainability is built into day-to-day decisions," he explains. The company's success stems from choosing more energy-efficient office space and continuously streamlining operations to reduce emissions at their source.

The efficiency gains become even clearer when looking at per-unit metrics. Interaction's carbon footprint per square metre of office space plummeted by 39.5%, dropping from 370 kgCO2 in 2022 to 224 in 2024. Even as they welcomed new team members, emissions per employee decreased by 5.5%, from 2,400 kgCO2 to 2,266 kgCO2.

For the past three years, Interaction has maintained climate-positive status, meaning they remove more CO2 from the atmosphere annually than they produce. They've now completed their fourth annual carbon footprint assessment and continue offsetting 110% of their operational emissions, going beyond simple carbon neutrality.

The Ripple Effect

Interaction's commitment extends far beyond their own operations. They're developing a comprehensive supply-chain database to track environmental credentials of suppliers and products, prioritizing local sourcing to minimize transport emissions. This approach creates positive ripples throughout their business ecosystem, encouraging suppliers and partners to elevate their own sustainability practices.

The company has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% year-on-year and plans to increase their commitment days, offering staff additional paid leave to support local charities, expanding to 120 days total. Their latest sustainability report, independently verified by Climate Essentials, provides transparency and accountability that other businesses can learn from.

Borne sees this progress as just the beginning. "While there's still work ahead, the progress we've made gives us a solid platform to innovate and accelerate further change. We're excited to move forward on this journey with our partners and clients, creating inspiring workspaces that support both people and the planet for the long term."

As Interaction continues winning major projects with landlords, flex space operators, and law firms across the UK, they're proving that environmental leadership can be a business advantage. Their success offers a blueprint for companies everywhere: growth and sustainability aren't competing priorities but complementary goals that, when pursued together, create lasting value for businesses, communities, and the planet.