Business as usual' is not an option anymore. Recent local and global environmental destruction has made that clear. We need to create a new business model for our economy. The B Corp movement has pioneered a new way of doing business, which requires increased stewardship and balances profit with purpose. BioPak believes in using business as a force for good – which is why they are a B Corp.

What are Certified B Corporations?

By becoming a B Corp, you are using business as a force for good. Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance and public transparency. To start the journey towards becoming a B Corp, businesses complete the B Impact Assessment (BIA) which holistically measures business performance and impact across five pillars:

1. Governance
2. Community
3. Environment
4. Workers
5. Customers

To certify, a business must achieve a benchmark score of 80 or above, and agree to certain legal requirements. To maintain certification, a B Corp must update their BIA and verify their updated score every three years.

How Big is the B Corp Movement?

Australia and New Zealand are the fastest growing regions of B Corp certification. Over 3,300 certified B Corps, big or small, operate in 150+ industries across 71 countries. Iconic businesses like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Ecosia, and The Body Shop are all B Corps. Australia and New Zealand are the fastest growing regions for B Corps, with 270 companies currently certified from 46 different industries. The B Corp movement is a community of leaders using business as a force for good. Over 500 B Corps publicly committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030 at the UN Climate Change conference COP25 in Madrid. This target is 20 years ahead of the 2050 targets set in the Paris Agreement.

Why BioPak is a Certified B Corp

BioPak believes that the B Corp community offers a better, more sustainable way to do business. BioPak shares the values of the B Corp community and believes that the BIA framework provides a roadmap to a better way to do business. Founded with the mission to address the impact of single-use disposable fossil fuel–based plastic, BioPak has been a B Corp since 2018. No company is perfect – but being part of this global movement has helped BioPak improve on several fronts, learn from fellow B Corps, and implement industry best-practice.

Certifications matter because they prove that a company's claims have passed specific performance, sustainability, and quality assurance tests and have been verified by a third party. In an industry rife with false and misleading environmental claims – known as greenwashing – being a certified B Corporation provides consumers with a level of trust in the ethos of the business. But more than being a solid marketing attribute, being a B Corp has helped BioPak incorporate a triple bottom line of 'People Planet Profits' into the business's DNA. The BIA tool and the recertification process provide a roadmap to continually improve how BioPak does business. Planet Friendly Packaging is proud to distribute products made by BioPak.

How Can You Get Involved?

You don't have to be a B Corp to contribute to the B Economy. The 'B Economy' is greater than simply the B Corps. It is built by everyone who works for, buys from, invests in, learns or teaches about, or supports businesses striving to create shared and durable environmental and social prosperity for all. You can:

• Vote with your wallet

• By choosing to shop with brands that align with your values, you can vote with your wallet for the kinds of businesses you want in the world. Look for the B Corp logo or find local B Corps here.

• Share the free B Impact Assessment as work

Even if your company doesn't reach a score of 80, the BIA can be used as a framework for continuous improvement.  

Information from BioPak's website. Read about how to avoid greenwashing and why certifications matter, on our blog.

Planet Friendly Packaging acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by COVID-19. Stay safe.