Reconomy commits to diversity by signing Race at Work Charter

Reconomy, a global circular economy specialist, has become a signatory of the Race at Work Charter, an initiative by Business in the Community aimed at fostering equal opportunities for Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and ethnically diverse employees. The company joins over 1,100 employers pledging to improve inclusivity and representation in the workplace.

Although the Race at Work Charter is a UK-focused standard, Reconomy plans to implement its principles across its international operations, which span more than 80 countries with a workforce exceeding 4,000 employees.

The Charter, launched in 2018, outlines key actions for businesses, including appointing an executive sponsor for race, promoting zero tolerance for harassment, improving career progression for ethnic minorities, and ensuring inclusion within supply chains. It builds on the findings of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, which highlighted persistent disparities in employment, promotion, and senior-level representation for ethnically diverse groups.

Lyndsey Denning, chief people officer at Reconomy and executive sponsor for race, commented: “Promoting diversity, inclusion and fairness is fundamental to Reconomy’s values and we are pleased to publicly affirm them by becoming a signatory to the Race at Work Charter. While the Charter is a UK standard, we are committed to implementing its principles across all of our international brands as we grow our footprint. Recruiting the best employees is pivotal to the success of Reconomy’s people-powered approach and this step demonstrates our intent to harness talent across all communities and backgrounds by improving opportunities for ethnically diverse people.”

Sandra Kerr CBE, race director at Business in the Community, added: “We would like to thank Reconomy for publicly committing to be an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the Charter, they are joining over 1,000 businesses who are working together so that the UK can have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the world. By taking collective action, we can break down workplace barriers, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals regardless of their ethnicity and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”