Recertifying as a B Corp: A Journey of Continuous Improvement
9th Oct 2024
As a B Corp, we're dedicated to using business as a force for good. Our recent recertification process was a valuable opportunity to evaluate our progress, identify areas for improvement, and set new goals. In this blog post, we celebrate the significant achievement of our increased B Corp score, highlight the key improvements we’ve made in working with suppliers, and discuss our plans for the future. We also offer tips for other businesses considering B Corp certification.
What Does It Really Mean to Be a B Corp?
Being a B Corp means we are held accountable for meeting the highest social and environmental performance standards, public transparency, and legal accountability. We strive to create a positive impact for our customers, employees, and the environment. We adhere to ethical business practices, including fair labour standards, human rights, and responsible sourcing. We prioritise sustainability in our operations, from reducing our carbon footprint to minimising waste and conserving resources.
B Corp Recertification: Reflecting and Improving
B Corp Recertification: Reflecting and Improving
Recertification is a valuable process that allows us to reflect on our progress and identify areas for improvement. Through the recertification process, we reflected on our journey as a business, identified improvement areas, and set new goals. We assessed our performance against the B Corp standards and identified where we had made significant strides. We pinpointed opportunities to enhance our social and environmental impact and established ambitious targets for the future, building on our successes and addressing our challenges.
A highlight of our recertification was achieving a significant improvement in our B Corp score, increasing it by 22+ points from 81 to 103 (the median score for an ordinary business is 50.9). This accomplishment is a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement and commitment to making a positive difference.
Key Improvements We’ve Made in Working with Suppliers
One of the key areas we focused on during our recertification process was our supplier relationships. Working closely with our suppliers helped us significantly reduce waste and improve sustainability throughout our supply chain. Here's how we're doing it:
Collecting Wastage: We actively collect waste from our manufacturing processes and repurpose it whenever possible. This helps to reduce our environmental footprint and minimise the amount of materials that end up in landfill.
Increasing Production Run Sizes: By increasing the size of our production runs, we can improve efficiency and reduce waste inherent in the setup process. This not only saves resources but also helps lower our overall costs.
Re-Locating Manufacturing: To reduce transportation requirements and emissions, we have relocated the manufacturing of specific components to locations closer to our suppliers. This helps to minimise our carbon footprint.
Investing in Infrastructure: We're investing in better infrastructure and quality control measures to reduce the number of defective products. This helps to minimise waste and improve the overall sustainability of our operations.
Improved Materials, Simpler Returns: Our Achievements
Since our last recertification, we've made significant strides in environmental responsibility, focusing on reducing our impact and promoting ethical practices.
We've launched two new product ranges made from recycled materials, HuskeeRenew and HuskeeSteel, demonstrating our commitment to circular economy principles. Our design team has incorporated environmentally friendly practices into our product development process, ensuring that our products are not only durable but also responsibly made.
We've streamlined our end-of-life product returns process, making it easier for customers to return used products to us to be turned into new products. We've partnered with RecycleSmart in Australia, a recycling program, to collect our products and return them to us to be given a second life.
We've strengthened our partnerships with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical sourcing and responsible business practices. We've increased transparency in our supply chain, ensuring that our materials and components are sourced from reliable and ethical suppliers.
These initiatives are just the beginning of our journey towards environmental responsibility. We're committed to continuously improving our practices and exploring new opportunities to reduce our impact and promote ethical business.
Future Goals: Scaling Impact Through Reuse
Looking ahead, we're excited to focus on our new turn-key reuse program. This innovative system aims to make reuse accessible and scalable, empowering businesses and individuals to reduce their environmental impact. By providing a convenient and efficient way to borrow and return products, we can minimise waste, conserve resources, and promote a more circular economy.
This new program can potentially revolutionise how we consume goods and services. By making reuse a viable alternative to single-use products, we can significantly reduce our reliance on new materials and our carbon footprint.
Tips for Other Businesses: Maximizing the Certification Process
B Corp Certification can be a valuable opportunity for businesses to reflect on their progress and identify areas for improvement. Here are some tips for other businesses considering undertaking the B Corp certification process:
Involve Your Entire Team: Encourage your entire team to participate in the process. This ensures a smoother experience and empowers employees to contribute their valuable insights and ideas. Fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration can create a more meaningful and impactful certification journey.
Set Ambitious Goals: Be bold and set ambitious goals for your certification process. You can drive continuous improvement and inspire your team to reach new heights by challenging yourself to achieve more.
Leverage B Corp Resources: Take advantage of the resources and support available through the B Corp community. Connect with other B Corps, attend workshops and conferences, and seek guidance from B Corp experts.
Celebrate Your Achievements: Recognize and celebrate your team's accomplishments throughout the certification process. This will boost morale, foster a positive work environment, and motivate your team to continue their efforts.
Final Thoughts
Our recertification journey has been a valuable experience, allowing us to reflect on our progress and set new goals. We're proud of our achievements in environmental responsibility and ethical business practices.
B Corp certification is a powerful tool for businesses looking to make a positive impact. By setting high standards, B Corps can inspire others to join them on this journey towards a more responsible and equitable future.
We encourage other businesses to consider B Corp certification and join us in creating a more responsible world.