Austin Design Works has become a Certified B Corporation (B Corp), recognising the landscape architecture’s 20 plus year commitment to sustainable landscape design and architecture.

The Gloucestershire based architectural design practice achieved an overall impact score of 97.1 across the five assessment pillars: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

Contributors to the practice’s certification include its collaboration with ecologists to create enriched wildlife habitats and exceeding the minimum 10% uplift for biodiversity net gain, which came into effect last month.

As well as its involvement in community focused projects, such as Horsley Playground, which the practice says “became a catalyst for regeneration and meaningfully involved local communities at every stage.”

The Stroude based practice also works to minimise its carbon footprint, through the utilisation of local materials, trades and craftspeople.

Rachel Emous-Austin, director of Austin Design Works and her brother, Matthew Austin say: “We have always been passionate about building a sustainable practice that is deeply rooted in the Stroud Valleys.”

The practice will undergo a recertification process every three years to update its impact assessment, with the intent to recertify as a B Corp.

B Corp Certification is defined by B Lab, the certifying B Corp body as “businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.”