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Kiwis don’t want their pensions to trash the planet (like, duh)

Guess what, here’s a news flash that isn’t really a news flash. Turns out that New Zealand investors want to do well and do good with their money, a new study has found.

Finally! The lie we’ve been sold about how we can only drive profit through suffering, extraction, and destruction is being unveiled as the insidious propaganda that it is.

It’s similar to the lie we’ve been sold about how businesses can only be ‘successful’ (ie profitable for shareholders) if they exploit in some way, be it pay low wages, belch greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, or pretend the plastic waste they create is unavoidable and not their problem.

It’s BS.

In truth, businesses that are a force for good in the world do better than those that aren’t. A Neilson study has found businesses with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability have grown by more than four per cent globally, as opposed to those without growing less than one per cent.

But we don’t get told this. Instead, we get told that we must accept there is a trade-off between ethical investing and earning good returns.

‘Oh no’, we are told. ‘I’m sorry but if you want your investment and pension funds to grow then you have to invest in companies that use slave and child labour, and that don’t pay fairly for resources, and that leave behind pollution… I know, it’s unfortunate but you have no choice if you want to have any money for your old age, you don’t want to be broke and homeless in your old age do you?…’

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE

Because it’s actually the very opposite. Just as we create more scarcity and inequality by supporting scarcity and inequality; we also create more true prosperity and abundance for all by supporting true prosperity and abundance for all.

For decades, we’ve turned a blind eye to our investment funds and pension funds being used to support industries like oil, gas, weapons of war, deforestation, tobacco, and so on, because we were told we ‘had to’ if we wanted to have a healthy retirement pot.

Shock, horror. It’s a massive lie that has caused us to fund the very industries that are destroying the planetary ecosystems upon which our lives utterly depend. At best, this unpalatable truth is kept secret. I bet most Kiwis have no idea that $68 million of our collective KiwiSaver funds and investment funds are invested in companies driving deforestation.

At last, more people are no longer falling for it and no longer standing for it, according to a new report by both Mindful Money and the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).

The research found that almost three quarters of New Zealanders (74%) expect their investments to be managed ethically and responsibly. The number of people willing to move their funds if the investments do not align with their values has increased to 59% (+4%).

And despite this being a time where we have high levels of financial uncertainty and volatility, not only is consumer demand for ethical investing gain momentum but there is growing interest in investing for positive impact.

GROWING DEMAND FOR POSITIVE IMPACT

One of the most significant findings from this survey is the increase in consumer interest in investing for positive impact, both through dedicated funds and within mainstream ethical and responsible funds.

A growing number of New Zealanders understand that investment has real world impacts, including on issues such as climate change, and they are interested in funds that can demonstrate positive impacts.

Consumers want to know what types of companies are in their portfolios, and they are more likely to choose ethical and responsible funds that have independent certification.

The survey also shows that consumers don’t believe the old myths of a trade-off between ethical investing and earning good returns. 45% expect ethical and responsible investments to perform better in the long term (up by 5% from 2022) while 45% see the relationship as neutral.

This is consistent with a large and growing evidence base, including for Australian and New Zealand investment funds, using comparative returns between ethical/responsible funds and traditional funds.

Any business that cannot make money without exploiting in some way, shape or form is a failure. A lazy, short-sighted and egregious failure and, finally, as a society we’re beginning to see that and we are demanding that the business sector pull its socks up.

 

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. Book a 30-min discovery call with Tamara here.

 

A stand-up comedy routine about B Corps written by ChatGPT

Okay, we’re going a bit left-field with the Grow Good blog this week. It all started when we saw that it’s open mic night at our local comedy club soon. And yes, it’s true we have dabbled in stand-up comedy in the past… could we do it again? And if so what subjects would our comedy routine address? The big question is, could we make serious subjects like becoming a B Corp, social justice and climate change, well, funny? Can we win hearts and minds for the cause through comedy?

There was only one thing to do. Ask ChatGPT. Turns out, ChapGPT considers itself quite the comedian. When we asked it to write us a stand-up comedy routine about B Corps, it rattled off several versions without breaking a sweat, we’re sharing the first of those routines here. So, please, welcome to the stage Chappy G! [Whoo! Crowd goes wild…]

“Thank you! Thanks so much, yes, ladies and gentlemen, give it up for B Corps! Yeah, you know, those businesses that are all about balancing purpose and profit. It’s like trying to convince your grandma that you can eat cake for breakfast and still be healthy. It’s a tough sell, but somehow, they make it work.

So, B Corps, they’re like the unicorns of the business world. You don’t see them every day, but when you do, you’re like, “Whoa, that’s some magical stuff right there.” I mean, they’re companies that actually care about more than just the bottom line. It’s like finding a billionaire who volunteers at the local animal shelter. It’s rare, but when it happens, you can’t help but be impressed.

But let’s be honest, being a B Corp is no easy feat. It’s like trying to keep your cool while your toddler is throwing a tantrum in the middle of a grocery store. You’re juggling social and environmental responsibilities while still trying to make a profit. It’s like spinning plates, except the plates are made of recycled paper and the sticks are bamboo. It’s a delicate balance, my friends.

And let’s not forget about the certification process. B Corps have to go through this rigorous assessment to prove that they’re not just greenwashing their way into our hearts. It’s like going to the DMV, but instead of testing your driving skills, they’re testing your ability to save the planet. Can you imagine? “Parallel park this hybrid car, and if you hit the curb, sorry, no B Corp certification for you.”

But hey, being a B Corp does come with its perks. They get to hang out with other socially conscious businesses, like a support group for companies who want to change the world. They probably have their own secret handshake or something. I can just imagine two B Corp CEOs meeting at a conference, and one says, “Hey, I’m a B Corp,” and the other replies, “No way, me too! Let’s hug it out and brainstorm ways to make the world a better place.”

But you know, being a B Corp also raises some interesting questions. Like, what happens if a B Corp and a regular corporation go on a blind date? Can you imagine the conversation?

B Corp: “So, what are your values?” Regular Corp: “Uh, profits?” B Corp: “Oh, how cute. Well, I’m all about people and the planet.” Regular Corp: “That’s nice, but can we talk about mergers and acquisitions instead?”

In the end, though, we need more B Corps in the world. They’re like the superheroes of the business world, fighting for a better future. They’re like Batman, but instead of a cape, they wear sustainable clothing. And instead of a Batmobile, they drive a Prius. They may not have superpowers, but they have something even better – a genuine commitment to making a positive impact.

So, next time you come across a B Corp, give them a high-five, or maybe even a fist bump if you’re into that. They’re the ones trying to change the world, one ethically sourced coffee bean at a time. And hey, if they can make purpose and profit work together, who knows? Maybe one day we’ll all be eating cake for breakfast. Thank you, and goodnight! I’ve been Chappy G…”

So, there you go. What do you think? Is Chappy G a comedy genius? Should we take this routine to our local comedy club on open mic night? Please give your scores out of 10 on the funny-o-meter in the comments below. Next week, let’s see what Chappy G says about climate change.

Fankya Fanyaverrymush, I’m here every Friday. Try the fish…

 

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. Book a 30-min B Corp discovery call with Tamara here.

Why I love Kiwi businesswomen

In a couple of days, I’m going to be a guest speaker at the BNZ Women’s Networking Breakfast at the Community101 hub in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand.

For 10 minutes, I get to take centre stage and talk about B Corp. My nerves and insecurities regarding public speaking will keep for another blog so I’ll gloss over that for now and get to the point.

In preparing my Powerpoint slides for this presentation, I’ve taken a look at some of the amazing and inspiring female entrepreneurs of this region, whose businesses are also B Corp certified. My goodness, there are some fierce females out there who are  roaring in a way that would make 70’s sensation Helen Reddy cry with pride (watch this vid Gen Z).

Local business women who are shaking things up and changing the world with their focus, determination, tenacity, sheer single-bloody mindedness, creativity, and sense of purpose. I am inspired, in awe and deeply grateful for them all at the same time.

So, this blog is an open letter of love to some of these women. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for battering down the obstacles and cracking the invisible and visible ceilings. Thank you for holding the torch high and lighting the way. Thank you for leading by example. Thank you for demonstrating what’s possible. Thank you for committing to continual improvement of your social and environmental impact. Thank you for your vision of business based on a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Here’s a short summary of some Kiwi women awesomeness… with an unashamed focus on Canterbury women and B Corps.

Ethique

First,  let me give a ‘yay you’ to founder of Ethique Brianne West. At this very moment, I have a bar of Ethique shampoo in my shower, a stick of lip balm in my handbag, and a Poppy lipstick in my make-up bag. #lovethisbrand

Brianne West, founder of Ethique

While still a uni student back in 2012, Brianne created her first shampoo bar on her kitchen table. It was called ‘Mintasy’ and Brianne was motivated by the desire to help rid the world of plastic bottle pollution #giveupthebottle. Fast forward to today, she’s been tweeted by Britney Spears and Ashton Kutcher and built a business now said to be worth about $US100 million. I mean, whaaaaat!? Boom. Mic drop. Anyway, Brianne recently stepped away from running Ethique so she could focus on her latest venture, Business But Better, which is mentoring for mission-driven entrepreneurs who are building businesses that solve social and environmental challenges. Brianne’s ethos is that business done right, done fairly and equitably, will create a better world for all, and a healthier environment. Which is the same message we have here at Grow Good about becoming a B Corp. And yes, Ethique is a rock solid B Corp.

Jeuneora

Next, Monique Kaminski founder of wellness and beauty brand Jeuneora. Like Brianne, Monique also started her business from home, selling collagen powder as a “side hustle” to supplement her income in 2016.

Monique Kaminski, founder of Jeuneora, a wellness and beauty brand

Now the Kiwi collagen queen, Monique built a website, manufactured her first run of Renew+ Marine Collagen Powder and launched it on social media with no marketing budget. Now the brand is said to be worth more than $7 million. Also a B Corp, Jeuneora has been hardcore about its social and environmental impact from the get-go but this seems to becoming ever more integral to the brand’s evolution. For example, the marine collagen used in Jeuneora products is ethically and sustainably sourced from France. It’s made from fish skin that would otherwise go to waste as a by-product of the fishing industry. The brand is fiercely cruelty-free and recently got Leaping Bunny status, which is the most rigorous certification that proves no testing on animals in any ingredients.

As well, the packaging of Jeuneora products (packaging is always problematic for any business) is 100% Sugarcane plastic and they have a free Terracycle returns programme. This means you can order a return envelope for free on their website and then send your empties back. Jeuneora ship product with DHL GoGreen Carbon Neutral programme. As well, $1 from every sale goes to charity. So far they’ve supported Australian Bush Fire Relief, the NAACP Legal Defence Fund, Wellington City Missions, and HagarNZ (for survivors of trafficking and slavery), and more.

Gourmate Pet Co

Next, a big shout out to Laura Wilkinson and Stephanie Mearns of the Gourmate Pet Co. I’m delighted to say that Gourmate Pet Treat Co. was New Zealand’s first B Corp Certified Pet Business. It all started because Laura and Steph were on a mission to create the best dog treats humanly possible.

Laura and Steph, founders of Gourmate Pet Co

Why is that a thing? Because apparently some pet food manufacturers were getting away with putting some really awful, even toxic, stuff into pet food because the legal standards are so much lower than for human food. Why would anyone want to feed toxins to their fur family?

So Gourmate uses only organic, wild, or low density free range proteins from premium local suppliers. In particular, organic Green Lipped Mussels, which are one of the most sustainable animal proteins available. As well, Gourmate advocates for better animal welfare practices within the pet industry. They care and share with local charities through the donation of treats, financial support, and awareness raising.

Untouched World

Another fabulous and gorgeous Christchurch brand, and a B Corp, is Untouched World, the founder of which is Peri Drysdale. It is a sustainable lifestyle brand that celebrates living in harmony with nature. I am currently saving up for one of the beautiful jumpers created by Untouched World. I have an envelope held onto my fridge door by a magnet. When I have a spare fiver or tenner, I put it in the envelope. One day, I will take home one of these stunning garments. Until then, I settle for buying coffee in the Untouched World cafe.

Peri Drysdale, founder of Untouched World

Untouched World was the first fashion company in the world to be recognised by the United Nations for sustainability. Its logo is a representation of a Maori Kite, which is the emblem of an ideal relationship between people and nature. The company uses ethically and sustainably sourced fabrics like ZQ certified merino, organic cotton and Ecopossum, all of which will naturally return to the earth and break down without contributing to landfill.

The majority (92%) of garments are made in Christchurch.

The Chia Sisters

Chia Sisters co-founders Florence and Chloe Van Dyke

Okay, so these amazing women aren’t from Canterbury, they are based in Nelson. I don’t care, I’m still going to shout to them because they’re so awesome. Chloe and Florence Van Dyke are the brains and brawn behind Chia Sisters superfood drinks, which are formulated to nourish your mind and body.

New Zealand’s first solar-powered juicery, Chia Sisters have also achieved Living Wage, Climate Positive, Zero Carbon, and B Corp Certification. They are also ranked among the top 5% of B Corps worldwide for environmental efforts. Their latest brainwave is to transport their juices in kegs for the hospitality industry, an innovation borrowed from the beer industry but which has never been done for juices. This innovation will save a massive amount of single-use plastic bottles that were ending up in landfill.

These fantastic female entrepreneurs are just the tip of the ice-berg of female talent we have in Canterbury and Aotearoa New Zealand. There are so many more I could mention, some B Corp and some on their way to being B Corp Certified, including… Cathy Gillespie of Like-Minded Learning, Helen Townsend and Anthea Madill of Sustained Fun, Jemma and Corinne Turner of Mylk Made, Sarah O’Connell of Soul Studio Hot Yoga, Sally Wynn Williams of Brannigans, Kendall Flutey of Banqer, Kaila Colbin of Boma, Jo Blair of Brown Bread, Caroline Thalund of S360, and more.

Just as exciting, is the up and coming female entrepreneurs of Canterbury. Some of whom are being nurtured through the University of Canterbury’s Centre of Entrepreneurship. I wish that had been an option when I was a student at Canterbury, about a zillion or so years ago.

B Corp businesses like these, through small and massive changes and actions, are weaving a future when business as a force for good is the way everyone does business. They are using the B Impact Assessment as a framework for continual improvement of their social and environmental impact. Because that’s what the BIA is. It’s an ESG framework as well as a certification.

If this is a movement you think you’d like to be a part of, drop us at Grow Good a line at tamara@growgood.co, or book in a free discovery call.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Tackling the C word… (What?! We’re talking about carbon. Sheesh.)

Ah yes, the controversial C word.

We all know it’s crucial. We all know we have to get our heads around it and we all know we have to drastically slash it.

I’m talking carbon emissions of course. That C word. Up there with other equally dreaded C words like ‘calories’ and ‘carbs’. All things we have to count and reduce but don’t particularly want to.

This is the time of the low carbon diet.

And this kind of carbon counting is becoming increasingly mandated as the world urgently tries to reign in greenhouse gas emissions (GhG) in an effort to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement (the legally-binding treaty on climate change that was signed by 196 countries at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015).

What is the goal of the Paris Agreement? To limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius (which is pretty much where we are now so some believe that ship has sailed, barring a miracle, so batten down the hatches because climate schizz is gonna get real).

A warming planet creates a wide range of risks for humanity and other species. For businesses in particular, risks include disrupted supply chains and labour challenges. Climate change and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and fires, can impact all businesses worldwide. Like, duh.

According to latest scientific data the world is on the path to exceed global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C during the 21st century unless deep reductions in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report). Global emissions should be cut to 45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030, and the world would need to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by around 2050, in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

LOW CARBON DIET

But the bottom line is, carbon reporting is getting increasingly mandatory as we try to meet these targets. One factor driving the expansion of mandatory carbon reporting, aka carbon accounting, is increasing awareness of the risks posed by climate change and the role that businesses play in contributing to it. Investors and other stakeholders are increasingly demanding transparency around carbon emissions and other environmental impacts, and governments are responding by mandating reporting requirements.

The future of mandatory carbon reporting globally will continue to expand and become more stringent. Many countries and regions, including the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and several U.S. states, have already implemented mandatory carbon reporting requirements for large companies, and others are expected to follow suit.

In the EU, for example, the European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives introduced by the European Commission in 2019 aimed at making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. It is an ambitious plan to transform the EU’s economy, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and transitioning to a circular economy.

One key component of the Green Deal is the EU’s commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

With this goal in mind, the EU has implemented a number of regulations aimed at improving carbon reporting, including the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Effort Sharing Regulation. The ETS is a market-based mechanism that puts a cap on the total amount of CO2 that can be emitted by power plants, factories, and other large emitters, and allows companies to buy and sell emissions allowances. The Effort Sharing Regulation sets binding national emission reduction targets for sectors not covered by the ETS, such as transport, buildings, and agriculture.

And this is just the start.

B CORP UPDATES

Here in B Corp world, the new standards for being a B Corp Certified business, to be implemented from 2024, will almost certainly include mandatory carbon reporting for all businesses.

While the proposed changes are still in draft form and under discussion, the intention is to urge B Corps to take action in accordance with science to combat climate change and its impacts. It is proposed to make three Climate Actions mandatory for B Corps namely:

  • CA1 Your company tracks its GhG emissions annually.
  • CA2 Your company implements a climate transition plan to ensure its fair contribution to keep global warming below 1.5 °C.
  • CA3 Your company has a track record of climate action. Scope: Your value chain, and all people and communities affected by your company, directly or indirectly.

CARBON REPORTING FOR SMES

For small companies, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to carbon tracking and reporting. Here at Grow Good, we can help with that but if you want to DIY it, here are several steps a small company can take to report its carbon emissions:

  1. Define the scope of the emissions: The company needs to determine what activities are producing carbon emissions, such as energy use, transportation, waste disposal, etc.
  2. Collect data: The company needs to gather data on its carbon emissions. This can involve analysing utility bills, fuel receipts, and other relevant documents.
  3. Calculate emissions: Once the data is collected, the company can calculate its carbon emissions. There are several online tools and software available that can help with this process, like this free toolkit from the New Zealand government.
  4. Develop a report: The company should develop a report that outlines its carbon emissions, including the methodology used for calculating them. The report should also provide information on the company’s carbon reduction goals and any measures it is taking to achieve them.
  5. Submit the report: The company can submit its report to relevant stakeholders, such as customers, investors, and regulatory bodies. Why not publish it on your website on your B Corp or Sustainability page?

It’s important to note that there are various reporting frameworks that a small company can use to report its carbon emissions, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). These frameworks provide guidance on how to report on carbon emissions and other sustainability metrics.

Through small and large changes and actions, B Corps are weaving a future when business as a force for good is the way everyone does business.

If this is a movement you think you’d like to be a part of, drop us at Grow Good a line at tamara@growgood.co, or book in a free discovery call.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

NZ B Corps winning the good fight

I don’t know about you but I can often end up feeling hopeless and despairing about the state of the world when I do a scroll through LinkedIn or Twitter.

Some days I just wanna find a corner, curl up in it and rock back and forth. For example, just this morning, I’ve seen posts on how it’s New Zealand Earth overshoot day this week (Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth regenerates during the entire year), as well as how it’s barely the start of summer in Europe and already the continent is drying up and facing record temperatures, plus a post on how a 34-million year-old ice sheet in Antarctica is heading for collapse, which could wipe out entire nations.

In the face of this kind of awful news, it is no wonder eco-anxiety is on a meteoric rise and so many of us feel overwhelmed at the enormity of the problems, not to mention furious and incredulous as, while climate schizz gets proper real and scary, the world’s most powerful governments STILL do next to nothing. For example, the UK government has actually opened up a new licensing round to allow oil and gas companies to explore for fossil fuels in the North Sea.

The depth of stupidity is beyond belief.

While we need to be painfully aware of the challenges if we are to come up with solutions, it can get overwhelming and dispiriting.

As well, it is just as important to note and know that massive and important positive efforts are being made. This is why, in this blog, I’m going to highlight some of the incredible work of Aotearoa NZ B Corps. Because instead of feeling hopeless, I want to feel hopeful and galvanised to take massive positive action. So, here is a very small look at some of the amazing work of our homegrown Kiwi B Corps.

Eleven Kiwi businesses made the B Corp Best For the World lists in 2022 – meaning they’re in the TOP 5% globally for a particular impact area against businesses of a similar size. Those companies were:

In addition, Untouched World is the first fashion company in the world to be recognised by the United Nations for sustainability.

Sawmills Brewery is the pilot brewery for a project to investigate decarbonising the brewing industry.

Pic’s Peanut Butter has gained zero carbon and climate positive status. This means the overall activity of Pic’s business operations reduces carbon in the atmosphere. Where emissions can’t be eliminated, Pic’s offset with certified carbon credits as part of the community-owned Drawa project on Vanua Levu, Fiji, protecting 4,120ha of tropical rainforest from logging.

Kathmandu‘s aspirational goal for 2025 is to have zero environmental harm from our business operations. To get there, they plan to become carbon zero, operate zero-waste facilities and look at how to can remove waste from their supply chains.

Raglan Food Co is spearheading an effort to pick one million pieces of plastic and rubbish from off our beaches.

CarbonClick has helped 1,223 businesses and 221,663 individuals take climate action.

…and so much more.

Going forward, I’m on a bit of a personal mission to celebrate and promote the achievements and inspiring mahi of NZ B Corps. Stay tuned. Be inspired. And if your company is already a B Corp, and you have some great news to share, let me know!

Together we can redefine the meaning of ‘success’ for business and create new economic norms. (If you are still running a linear ‘take, make, waste’ business model – honey, then you are failing.)

Through small and large changes and actions, B Corps are weaving a future when business as a force for good is the way everyone does business.

If this is a movement you think you’d like to be a part of, drop us at Grow Good a line at tamara@growgood.co, or book in a free discovery call and we’ll help you get there.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

Redefine Business Norms and Success with B Corp

What if we, as a community, nation, society, decided that a company was an abject failure if, in the operation of its business, it caused environmental damage or perpetuated social injustice?

What if we all judged this business as an epic fail? And what if we had a slew of tools to, not only prevent such companies ever doing business in the first place, but also tools we could employ to either help businesses correct unintentional failure, or face immediate and consequential punitive action for this harm caused? For example, the immediate cessation of the right to operate; or hefty penalties.

What would these tools be? Corporate legislation, government regulation and policy, taxation, financial penalties, legal action.

But what do we do instead when a company pollutes or has modern slavery in their supply chain? At best, we do nothing. At worst, we applaud and praise these companies for making huge profits for their shareholders. A token of which they may throw at a worthy charity, or sponsor a sports team, as part of ‘giving back’.

Meanwhile, the world burns.

The climate crisis and egregious social injustice are human-made crises mainly created and exacerbated by those with economic power and privilege. When we buy something “cheap” we are supporting and perpetuating these power structures. (By the way, there is no such thing as “cheap”. There is only passing on the true cost. In other words, another being is suffering so we can can have our “cheap” delusion. That being could be a child in the Congo, a woman in Bangladesh, a cow in America, orangutans in Brazil… someone is paying for our “cheap”. The irony is, it ultimately comes back to bite us.)

What if, we all judged a business as a wild success if it healed and regenerated the environment and drove social justice and equity? And what if our societies, and our systems of education, law and governance were structured to encourage and reward these businesses. What if we had tools to help these businesses flourish and thrive?

Then we would not be facing the biggest existential crisis ever faced by humankind.

It does not need to be like this.

Happily, there is change afoot. And it cannot come quickly enough.

The one unifying goal of all certified B Corporations – businesses of varied sizes, industries, and sectors — is a mission to use business for the good of all people and the planet rather than singularly focus on profit.

B Corps pursue this mission by developing products that are regenerative rather than extractive, policies that are transparent rather than opaque, and programs that are equitable rather than unjust.

Redefining success for business and creating new economic norms also involves speaking up for change and learning continually.

At your company, this can mean launching a sabbatical program that acknowledges the need for rest. In your community, this can mean forming advocacy partnerships that support climate justice. With federal leaders, this can mean sharing how your business is using clean energy to reduce its environmental impact.

Through small and large changes and actions, B Corps are weaving a future when business as a force for good is the way everyone does business.

If this is a movement you think you’d like to be a part of, drop us at Grow Good a line at tamara@growgood.co, or book in a free discovery call.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

 

 

Wanna dip your toe in B Corp? Jump in a cohort pool party!

Here at Grow Good, we pretty much live and breathe B Corp. We help businesses become, and stay, B Corp certified. And generally speaking, the way we’ve always worked up until recently is on a one-on-one basis with clients of any size.

But one-to-one B Corp coaching doesn’t suit every business. If you’re a micro to small business, or a one-person sole trader, then your budget barely extends to buying anything other than no-frills instant coffee, never mind forking out for one-to-one coaching for B Corp certification.

So, even if you know you want to be a B Corp; even if you love the whole idea and fervently wish you could plaster that coveted B logo all over your branding materials but oh my goodness, who has the time to figure it out by yourself?! Who has the energy to keep your business running while making sure the dog gets walked, the kids get to school, there’s milk in the fridge, the lawns mowed, laundry hung out… and all the other myriad things that life demands we do… (if you’re answering work emails at 11pm, this is you). How on earth are you going to add getting B Corp into that mix?

Yeah, we get it. You’re not a company like Kathmandu or a Unilever, you don’t have a team of people to delegate this stuff to. It’s you. You’re it. If you’re going to be a B Corp business, it’s you who needs to do the mahi.

We have a solution. It’s called B Better Budget and it’s a cohort model for getting B Corp that’s aimed specifically at micro to small businesses. It’s basically group coaching.

We’ve just launched this service and our first cohort is now half-way through the five-week process. It sold out within four days of our announcing it and we’ve already got half of the next one filled up even though it doesn’t start till next month. So we figure there must be a need for this service. Our hope is to start a new cohort every month.

And from our point of view, the more companies we can get to B Corp certification, the quicker we all move the needle towards the ultimate goal of transforming economies to ones that drive social justice and regenerate, rather than degrade, the planet. It’s about driving bigger positive impact.

The benefits of the B Better Budget cohort are:

  1. It’s WAY cheaper than 1:1 coaching – (and many NZ businesses qualify for funding that can get up to 50 per cent of the cost subsidised – ask us about that)
  2. It’s more fun. Doing it in a group of like-minded entrepreneurs means making friends, sharing experiences, and bouncing ideas off each other.
  3. It’s more inspiring: There is nothing like hearing what other companies are doing to tackle certain challenges than to get you fire up about improving your own impact.
  4. It creates community: We’re all in this together and it’s more empowering to solve our biggest challenges together.

The benefits of being a B Corp are:

  1. B Corps are more resilient and they attract and keep the best talent
  2. B Corps are more profitable than ‘business as usual’ models
  3. B Corps are primed and ready for the huge changes sweeping the globe, like mandatory emissions reporting, and supply chain transparency

So. If you want to be a business that’s a force for good in the world, be a B Corp. If you just want to make more money, be a B Corp. #nobrainer

For more information on our B Better Budget cohort, download the information pack here. Or ping me any questions at tamara@growgood.co, or just book in a free discovery call.

 

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

 

Earth Day 2023 – Invest in our Planet (even from your sofa)

Heads up people, Earth Day is happening this month on 22 April.

What’s Earth Day you ask? It’s annual event that started in 1970 aimed at celebrating the achievements of the environmental movement as well as to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

Earth Day is now recognised by 193 countries, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

What do people get up to on Earth Day? A whole range of things from community clean-ups to turning lights off, upcycling flea markets, tree plantings, nature meditations, a climate change puppet show, and much more. For ideas and an Earth Day toolkit, go to on https://www.earthday.org/. For a global events map, to see what’s happening near you, see here. But guess what, you can also get involved without even getting off the sofa, see the list of ‘sofa-based activism’ suggestions below.

The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Invest In Our Planet, which highlights the importance of investing our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues.

Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. When we Invest In Our Planet together, we are supporting healthy, happy, and wealthy communities worldwide.

Check out Earth Day’s Action toolkit to get involved: https://bit.ly/3U1LdWl

Among the initiatives of this year’s Earth Day, there’s a call for a global plastics treaty; a movement to promote climate literacy to create a generation of citizens, workers, students, and leaders ready for climate change; a massive effort on tree planting, and a call for big change in the fashion industry..

On a larger scale, Earth Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility we have to protect our planet. Governments and businesses have a critical role to play in creating policies and practices that promote sustainability and protect our natural resources. By holding leaders accountable and advocating for change, we can create a more sustainable future for all.

SOFA-BASED ACTIVISM

Want to save the world from your sofa? Here’s a few super easy actions you can take:

  1. End Plastic Pollution 

Sign this petition calling for a global plastics treaty: https://action.earthday.org/plasticstreaty

Why? Plastic pollution is one of the most fundamental issues threatening the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems worldwide. Micro-plastics are found everywhere, from mountaintops to the deepest oceans – and even inside our bodies. Unfortunately, addressing the crisis is beyond the ability of any single country, and despite the growing global consensus, no multilateral efforts have existed to combat this issue until now. Sign the treaty.

  1. Join the Earth Day Social Squad and impact from the comfort of your chair

What’s a Social Squad? As part of the Social Squad, you’ll receive emails once a week with a post to share on your own Facebook and Twitter. With just a couple of clicks, you can spread the word. Sharing, liking and commenting on Earth Day posts pushes them to the top of the social media feeds, which then allows Earth Day to reach more people. Your clicks directly support the environmental movement. Join Earth Day social squad.

  1. Update Your Social Media Profile Picture

Click here for a customizable free graphic template on Canva. You can access the graphic template via any browser and create your new profile picture.

  1. As little as $1 can plant a tree

Home to about 80% of the world’s biodiversity, forests are collectively the second biggest storehouse of carbon after oceans, absorbing significant amounts of greenhouse gasses. They also enhance biodiversity, while protecting waterways, enhancing soil nutrition, and providing buffers from natural disasters.

The Canopy Project  is Earth Day’s tree planting project and since 2010, millions of trees have been planted. Earth Day works with global partners to reforest areas in dire need of rehabilitation, including areas with some of the world’s communities most at-risk from climate change and environmental degradation. They have also conducted broad tree planting in the wake of environmental disasters. Go on, give them a few dollars.

Click here: donate.earthday.org/donate_to_the_canopy_project

  1. Frock off to Fast fashion

The fashion industry must change. The industry is responsible for 10% of all carbon emissions. Textile processing consumes 20% of global wastewater. It pollutes rivers, streams and ground water with high levels of pesticides and harsh chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. 60% of all clothing is made of polyester and contains microplastics. Washing garments made of polyester and other synthetics accounts for 35% of the ocean’s microplastics. Apparel companies conservatively produce 100 billion garments per year; less than 1% of clothing is recycled; 40 million tons of textiles (87% of clothing) are disposed of in landfills or incinerated.

Join the call to demand change in fashion. Click here: action.earthday.org/the-fashion-industry-must-change.

  1. Finally, send a letter to your government representative and Vote Earth 

Click here: https://www.earthday.org/support-the-earth-bill/

In conclusion, Earth Day is an important event that reminds us of the urgent need to protect our planet. By making sustainable choices in our daily lives, participating in local events and initiatives, and advocating for change on a larger scale, we can work together to restore and protect the earth for generations to come. Let us all do our part in ensuring that our planet remains a beautiful and livable place for all living beings.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

 

 

#InvestInOurPlanet #EarthDay #EarthDayEveryDay #ClimateChange #Environment #Sustainability #TakeAction #ItsNotADayItsAMovement #TheGreatGlobalCleanup #TheCanopyProject #FashionForTheEarth #VoteEarth #GreenCities #ClimateLiteracy

The Truth about the B Corp Journey

Can businesses help solve the biggest societal and environmental challenges we’ve ever faced? Especially considering the huge part business has played in creating these challenges? B Corp says ‘Yes…’ but there are some strings…

A good chunk of my working day is spent talking to businesses that want to know more about B Corp. If you’re thinking about it, let me emphasise that this is no small decision.

B Corp will challenge you to evidence the impact you are making by using business as a force for good. This is not a vanity exercise for marketing purposes, nor just a nice badge of honour that will attract new customers (although it will do that). B Corp will hold up a mirror and ask whether or not you can say, hand on heart, that you will do authentic and measurable things to improve the lives of people and the planet. That you will no longer prioritise profit over planet and people.

Historically, the business sector has accelerated social inequity, fuelled human rights violations, and laid the foundations for climate change. With a global cultural shift underway, are businesses truly evolving from being the drivers of humanity’s biggest problems to drivers of positive and inclusive change?

Are we being idealistic to think the business world can address the pivotal challenges it has played – and continues to play – in creating? From uplifting marginalised communities to reducing the damage of consumer products, to ending the food waste that could alleviate the hunger of almost a billion people.

STRIPPING BARE

The B Corp movement is pulling out all the stops to find out. This is no time to gloss over the reality of the hole we’ve dug ourselves into, nor can we shy away from the difficult and honest conversations. Choosing the B Corp certification road for your business is a big decision. It’s the start of a journey that will hopefully never end as your organisation improves, year on year, in being a force for good that restores the health of our planet and works to drive social equality all over the globe.

By choosing to be a B Corp, you are declaring that you will no longer profit from the suffering of others, be they the Bangladeshi women working in clothing factories, or the cows crammed into the massive factory farms of America.

Being a B Corp business means no longer profiting from exploitation, extraction and emissions. Do not fool yourself into thinking this is an easy thing to do. We’ve created a system that makes it difficult not to pollute and degrade with even our smallest daily activities. From cooking eggs for breakfast on a gas range, to taking the kids to school in our petrol-fuelled car, we have woven fossil fuel combustion into every aspect of our lives.

METAMORPHOSIS

Our entire economic system is built on foundations of exploitation as well as on the lie that endless economic growth is possible and desirable. In nature, if something just grows and grows, it’s called ‘cancer’. In essence, this is traditional capitalism.

Can the business world really undo centuries of programming that worship the bottom line of profit above all else?

By taking the B Corp road, you are saying, ‘Yes, I believe businesses can be run differently. I believe businesses can be modelled on restoration rather than degradation. I believe we can create a socially just society and a healthy planet.’

And it’s okay that we are still working out how we’re going to do this. It’s okay that we don’t have all the answers yet – we’ll find the answers if we keep asking the tough questions. And that is what your B Corp journey is about… it’s about tussling over those difficult questions specific to your organisation; it’s about discussing and debating and learning, evolving and transforming.

The key is to embrace the process of this metamorphosis. Stick with it when the road gets bumpy and celebrate your breakthroughs, big and small.

If you let it, the B Corp journey will be more rewarding, enriching and fulfilling than any satisfaction previously garnered through reporting annual profits to shareholders.

Kia kaha

Tamara

tamara@growgood.co

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Ready to take the plunge towards becoming a B Corp business? Let the Grow Good team guide you through the process either through 1:1 coaching or group coaching on one of our regular cohort programmes. 

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

10 years and 100 B Corps in Aotearoa New Zealand

It’s the 10th anniversary of B Corp in Aotearoa and we’ve just hit our 100th B Corp business.

Which is great!

But also not so great.

I’ll get to that in a moment but first, let’s celebrate the achievement. Back in 2013, B Lab launched in New Zealand and Australia, opening a headquarters in Melbourne. Ten years on and the ANZA region combined has clocked up more than 500 B Corp businesses.

Of that number, New Zealand comprises 100. The first business to certify as a B Corp in New Zealand was Eagle Protect in Christchurch back in 2012. Led by the long-time B Corp champion Steve Ardagh, Eagle imports and distributes ethically sourced disposable gloves and clothing for the food, industrial and medical sectors.  Hats off to Steve, he has passionately and tirelessly championed the B Corp movement here in Aotearoa for the last decade. Go you Steve.

Ten years later, we have reached the 100 milestone. If you search for the full list of all NZ B Corps on the official B Lab ‘Find a B Corp’ page, you’ll be given the full list of 100 with Christchurch creative agency Not Another listed as the most recently certified.

Anyway, that’s the good news. We’re part of a global community of more than 6000 B Corps and the trajectory is rising steeply.

The not-so-great news is that 100 NZ businesses is a tiny drop in the proverbial plastic-choked oceans.

Currently, there are about 562,524 businesses in New Zealand and about 2,314,200 employees. (I say ‘about’ because these are government figures from February 2021.) That’s a whole lot of businesses still running under the ‘business as usual’ model that 20th Century economist Milton Friedman made so popular in the 1970s. The Friedman doctrine, also called shareholder primacy or stockholder theory, is Milton’s ridiculous idea that the only responsibility of business is to increase its profits. That’s it. Milton opined that business doesn’t have to care about anything that doesn’t drive shareholder profits. In Milton’s la la land, there are no limits to the planet’s resources; we have endless supplies of everything, and there’s no need to mandate business to concern itself with pesky things like what happens to the waste generated by its products – that’ll just work out somehow.

And look where that’s got us. A world gripped by insatiable consumerism that is pushing the planet beyond its boundaries. Shareholder capitalism has delivered massive social inequality, modern slavery, biodiversity devastation, mass species extinction, global warming and climate change, senseless waste, and pervasive plastic pollution, which means we now have micro plastics in our food and water, which means its in our brains, organs, blood streams, and so on.

B Lab has the crazy idea that perhaps there’s a better way to run the world’s businesses and economies. Perhaps instead of polluting, destroying and perpetuating suffering every time we buy a t-shirt or chocolate bar, we could change a few things so that every action we take regenerates the planet and drives social equity.

Crazy, huh!

Happily, the number of us ‘crazies’ who believe we could do a whole lot better is growing. And this is what the B Corp movement is about. The triple-bottom line of people, planet and profit because for a business to thrive in the long-term, it needs to think about its impact on and its relationship with the stakeholders that it relies on to be successful. This is not just the shareholders but also its customers, employees, the environment, and the local communities that it literally exists in.

More businesses are seeking something like B Corp certification to hold themselves to account, to assess their social and environmental performance against benchmarks, to send a message, not just to their customers but also to their business partners, their suppliers, and their employees.

B Corps also work together as well to drive better outcomes for their communities, recognising that business has a role to play in wider society is a core philosophy of B Corp. And increasingly businesses like B Corps are being recognised as more resilient and profitable business models. This is possibly due to the relationships with stakeholders that businesses rely on in times of difficulty or crisis.

Anyway. The upshot is that while I’m delighted to see us reach the 100 milestone of B Corps in Aotearoa, I’m thinking ‘what about the other 550,000 or so?‘ So this is a call to those half a million Kiwi businesses as well as the people who work for them.

If you’re an employee, ask your management ‘why aren’t we a B Corp?‘

If you’re interviewing for a new job, ask the people hiring, ‘are you a B Corp?‘

If you’re a customer or client, ask the people you’re paying, ‘are you working on becoming a B Corp?‘

If you’re an investor assessing a start-up’s potential, ask the founder, ‘have you started your B Corp journey?‘

Because we need every NZ business to be at the social and environmental standards of a B Corp as a minimum.

With that said, let me move back to ‘yay good onya!’ mode. I am now going to list all 100 B Corps from oldest to newest (as of March 2023). Please support these companies, they are trailblazers.

Eagle Direct Ltd
Ethique
Brown Bread Ltd
International Volunteer HQ
Little Yellow Bird
Grow Good
Peoples Coffee Limited
Duffle & Co. Ltd
Banqer
CQ New Zealand Ltd
thinkstep-anz
Redvespa Consultants Ltd
BioBalance Ltd
CoGo
Toitu Envirocare
Sawmill Brewery
Sharesies
Green Business HQ Ltd
Kathmandu (KMD Brands)
Ngatahi Communications
Method Recycling
Springload
Mayne Wetherell
Dignity
Brightly Solutions
Synlait Milk Limited
Fix & Fogg
LilyBee Wrap
Pathfinder
Like-Minded Learning Ltd
Education Perfect
The Better Packaging Co
The Co-operative Bank
Raglan Food Co Limited
The Hello Cup Company
Chia Sisters
Just Add Lime
Write Limited
D3 Digital Limited
Untouched World
ecostore
Kiwibank Limited
GravityLab Ltd
NEO Leaders Limited
Emma Lewisham
Orba Shoes
Noho
CaliWoods
Manukora Ltd
Carbonclick Ltd
twiice New Zealand Ltd
Catapult
Owen River Lodge
Greenfern Industries
Tax Traders
EPI-interactive
Boma New Zealand
Kin
Stuff Ltd
Kowtow clothing Ltd
Pic’s Peanut Butter
AWWA
Wild Clean
Workplace Assessment & Solutions Limited (WPAAS)
Circularity
The Whole Story
Zay Ltd
Food Nation
Heilala Vanilla
Gourmate Pet Treat Co.
Good Sense
Honeywrap
Maggie Marilyn
Jeuneora
Scafit Ltd
MoneyWorks NZ Ltd
Ozone Coffee Roasters Intnl
BeeNZ
DNA Design
Crank
MRCagney
Optimal Workshop
Taylor Pass Honey Co
Volpara Health Technologies Ltd
Karma Drinks
Blue Frog Breakfast
Tuhoe Tuawhenua Trust T/A Manawa Honey NZ
Tennent Brown Architects
Almighty Beverages
Te Rehe Group Limited
NSPR Limited
Gemelli Consulting
Ceres Organics
Pals
Tiraki Ltd
NZ Native Honey Products
Sustained Fun
HealthPost
Wright Communications
Not Another

 

Here at Grow Good, it’s our job to help businesses become B Corp certified. Because the process can be confusing and daunting. We translate it, break it down, offer resources to make it as manageable as possible. If your business is ready to go B Corp, give us a shout or book in a discovery call.

Kia kaha

Tamara

 

Are you Ready to B Better?

Don’t wait to be a better business, get on with it now. The planet depends on it.

Feeling like you’re ready to B Better and want to see if we can help? Well then let’s have a chat! Book a call here – https://bit.ly/BookGGCall

 

About Grow Good

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, I am a world-recognised B Corp Consultant and Coach on a mission to help companies from around the world simplify and fast-track their B Corp Certification. I work with companies throughout New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the USA. New Zealand’s first B Corp Consultant trained by B Lab to date I have helped Certify 1/3 of the B Corps in NZ.

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P.O Box 37366
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Christchurch 8245

Phone: + 64 21 288 2363
Email: tim@growgood.co 

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