BEAUTY & FRAGRANCE
MILLER HARRIS
Miller Harris is a British fragrance house with the spirit of bespoke fragrance creation at its heart. When creating fragrances they start with nature, framing precious natural materials in complex ways using more sustainable natural ingredients whilst pushing creative boundaries. Embodying a modern and unconventional artistic spirit. This pursuit through the conscious mind leads them to explore different ways the world can inspire fragrance creativity. The symbiotic link between finding nature in urban landscapes and imagination from the written word.
SUSTAINABILITY PURPOSE
“80% done is better than waiting for 100% perfect”. At Miller Harris, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. For over 24 years, they have been pioneers in conscious luxury, crafting fragrances that start with nature and prioritise ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients. Their commitment to sustainability goes beyond lip service; it's ingrained in their philosophy and practices. They strive to make a positive impact on both people and the planet. They are dedicated to delivering exceptional products while setting an example of responsible and sustainable business practices. Their initiatives span social, environmental, and governance pillars to drive meaningful change. Their commitment to sustainability extends to every aspect of their business, from staff training and wellbeing to sustainable product design and production, water and waste reduction and responsible sourcing. In 2022 they launched their Upcycled Initiative, incorporating by-products of fragrance manufacturing and wider processes into their products such as upcycled Oakwood derived from wine barrels and Hydrolat Sage, an aromatic water bi-product from the steam distillation process of sage leaves.
Established
2000
Headquarters
London, UK
Categories
Fragrances
Employees
1-50
Website
Distribution
Worldwide
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CARD
Positive Luxury powers the Butterfly Mark, the only assessment and certification designed to shape a sustainable future for the luxury industry and luxury consumers
REAL CHANGE IN ACTION
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Miller Harris has been collaborating with its primary fragrance partner to create the M.H Upcycled Initiative, looking for areas throughout its supply chain for second-use opportunities from materials and ingredients. Rose & Patchouli, Oakwood, Cedarwood, and Hydrolat Sage are all ingredients the brand has worked to upcycle. Furthermore, the brand uses a water-saving technique by utilising essences in its juice from the fragrance oil distillation process which would otherwise we discarded. By working with its partner on these innovative processes, Miller Harris is part of the transformation of the luxury fragrance industry into more circular production methods, reducing water and raw material wastage.
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
Miller Harris goes beyond due diligence in its sustainable sourcing strategy by working closely with suppliers at the forefront of innovation in the luxury fragrance industry. Their CEO wrote a personal note which was sent to all suppliers communicating their sustainability purpose and requesting ESG information for Miller Harris to be able to have more visibility and track material inputs further down their supply chain. Miller Harris seeks long-term relationships with its suppliers, preferring to establish business building opportunities built on integrity and trust, and regularly assess its suppliers to ensure they are aligned with their values. Miller Harris is able to leverage its supply chain visibility to communicate more transparently to consumers, as shown in the publication of its Sustainability Manifesto.
HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING
Miller Harris prioritises the wellbeing of its staff by consulting with experts, having undertaken a retail risk assessment to identify priority areas in Health Safety & Wellbeing, and improve upon their practices. Building on their Health & Safety policy, the brand has implemented practices such as gathering team feedback to understand how best to improve ways of working and providing mental health support and wellness workshops to its staff. As part of their culture building initiatives, Miller Harris provides unconscious bias training to its employees. Miller Harris also provides high levels of safety measures in the workplace, from having a formal safety reporting system, to making all safety procedures accessible to on-site personnel and provision of conditions and infrastructure to accommodate employees with disabilities.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
As a small corporate team, Miller Harris is prioritising collecting key data and information from its suppliers to understand the chemical ingredients used throughout its supply chain. The team requires suppliers to disclose any chemicals of concern and have a formalised process for identifying and remediating any chemicals which do not align with their own internal Restricted Substance List. The brand is thorough in collecting information on all material inputs and does so through third-party audits and ongoing, active communications with suppliers.
Miller Harris has been collaborating with its primary fragrance partner to create the M.H Upcycled Initiative, looking for areas throughout its supply chain for second-use opportunities from materials and ingredients. Rose & Patchouli, Oakwood, Cedarwood, and Hydrolat Sage are all ingredients the brand has worked to upcycle. Furthermore, the brand uses a water-saving technique by utilising essences in its juice from the fragrance oil distillation process which would otherwise we discarded. By working with its partner on these innovative processes, Miller Harris is part of the transformation of the luxury fragrance industry into more circular production methods, reducing water and raw material wastage.
Miller Harris goes beyond due diligence in its sustainable sourcing strategy by working closely with suppliers at the forefront of innovation in the luxury fragrance industry. Their CEO wrote a personal note which was sent to all suppliers communicating their sustainability purpose and requesting ESG information for Miller Harris to be able to have more visibility and track material inputs further down their supply chain. Miller Harris seeks long-term relationships with its suppliers, preferring to establish business building opportunities built on integrity and trust, and regularly assess its suppliers to ensure they are aligned with their values. Miller Harris is able to leverage its supply chain visibility to communicate more transparently to consumers, as shown in the publication of its Sustainability Manifesto.
Miller Harris prioritises the wellbeing of its staff by consulting with experts, having undertaken a retail risk assessment to identify priority areas in Health Safety & Wellbeing, and improve upon their practices. Building on their Health & Safety policy, the brand has implemented practices such as gathering team feedback to understand how best to improve ways of working and providing mental health support and wellness workshops to its staff. As part of their culture building initiatives, Miller Harris provides unconscious bias training to its employees. Miller Harris also provides high levels of safety measures in the workplace, from having a formal safety reporting system, to making all safety procedures accessible to on-site personnel and provision of conditions and infrastructure to accommodate employees with disabilities.
As a small corporate team, Miller Harris is prioritising collecting key data and information from its suppliers to understand the chemical ingredients used throughout its supply chain. The team requires suppliers to disclose any chemicals of concern and have a formalised process for identifying and remediating any chemicals which do not align with their own internal Restricted Substance List. The brand is thorough in collecting information on all material inputs and does so through third-party audits and ongoing, active communications with suppliers.
Standards & Accreditations
To provide evidence of sustainability performance across luxury companies' full value chain, 180+ memberships, accreditations and specialist certifications are taken into account during assessment
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Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Soil Association Organic Certified
COSMOS Certified
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The Leaping Bunny Standard
JOURNEY SO FAR
11/2021
BEGAN ASSESSMENT
11/2022
BASELINE SUBMISSION
12/2022
RISK MAPPING
12/2023
FINAL SUBMISSION
03/2024
CERTIFICATION
A WORD FROM THE MARKETING DIRECTOR
It’s a true privilege to receive the Butterfly Mark for a second time. This process is a journey, and we know there is so much more to do. It’s a tribute to the founding principles of the brand and years of running the business with integrity and care. We’re grateful for the strong relationships with partners and customers that makes this possible.
ALEX OPREY
MARKETING & PRODUCT DIRECTOR
WHY POSITIVE LUXURY
We share in Positive Luxury’s belief that the Luxury sector should be leading the way in shaping a sustainable future. Collaboration and embracing ESG principles is paramount to achieving this. By having independent experts evaluate our performance across environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance standards, it not only mitigates risks but also identifies opportunities for growth and innovation. Transparency on our sustainability mission and performance fosters authenticity and trust with our socially conscious stakeholders. It is a constant evolution but having this support network helps drives continual improvement and secure long-term sustainability in a world that needs us to be ever conscious of our impact on it.
LAUREN BOYLAN
HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
PATHWAY TO HIGHER STANDARDS
With a firm belief that every small step leads us on a journey to preserving the planet for future generations, Miller Harris are committed to leading the way in sustainable fragrance. They are setting ambitious goals, and striving to achieve them, with an ongoing focus on carbon footprint measuring, protecting biodiversity and circular economy practices, including expanding their Upcycled Initiative. 2024 will see them launch their Employee Supported Volunteering Programme, with each Miller Harris employee committing two days annually to local volunteering or community projects. Their ultimate goal is for their brand to operate close to a zero environmental impact as possible.