Doing good is good for business – in New Zealand, Australia and around the world – Image: B Lab/Chia Sisters
Across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, B Corp Month brought together a growing community of businesses and innovators to celebrate a different way of doing business—one that’s better for people, communities, and the planet. Certified B Corporations™ believe there’s a better path to a better world—one of action and purpose, inspiration and community. This movement is powered by an emerging generation of people using business as a force for good.
For B Corp Month, B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand united thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers for a forward-thinking exploration of fashion’s sustainable future. The New Zealand team hosted a compelling panel discussion on how the next generation is reshaping the way fashion is consumed, showcasing their role in driving the sustainability movement. The event also included an engaging workshop where participants explored how B Corps are pioneering circularity, environmental stewardship, and bold climate action—setting new industry standards for a more sustainable tomorrow.
A successful event evening in Auckland showcased some of the finest brands in the B Corp community in Aotearoa New Zealand, including sampling, shopping, expert advice and special offers. Featuring Aleph Beauty, Almighty Beverages, Bennetto Natural Foods, Blue Frog Breakfast, BLUNT, Deadly Ponies, Deep Down Wines, Monarc Jewellery, Ozone Coffee, Pals, Pic’s Peanut Butter, Raglan Food Co, Sawmill Brewery and Untouched World guests were able to discover how these luxury brands thrive under the B Corp umbrella.
A successful event at Untouched World in Auckland – Image: Neuseeland Australien News (NAN)
“B Lab is the not-for-profit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet”, says Lucinda Walravens, Events Manager, B Lab AANZ. B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the B Global Network: a unified group of global, regional, and national organisations spanning six continents.
At a local level, B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand is governed by a Board of Directors, informed by a B Council and voices from the movement. “We began in 2006 with the idea that a different kind of economy was not only possible, but necessary — and that business could lead the way towards a new, stakeholder-driven model, “explains Walravens. B Lab became known for certifying B Corps: companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
“But we do much more than that. We’re building the B Corp movement to change our economic system — and to do so, we must change the rules of the game”, underscores Sarah Schwimmer, Interim Co-Lead Executive & Head of External Affairs, B Lab Global. “B Lab creates standards, policies, tools, and programs that shift the behaviour, culture, and structural underpinnings of capitalism. We mobilise the B Corp community towards collective action to address society’s most critical challenges.”
The B Lab event evening in Auckland showcased some of the finest brands in the B Corp community in Aotearoa New Zealand – Image: Neuseeland Australien News (NAN)
“Our team in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand supports B Corps to measure and improve their impact, and to tell stories that inspire new purpose-driven businesses to do the same”, Schwimmer continues.
More European consumers than ever recognize the B Corp logo–and it’s changing how they shop, work, and engage with businesses. The 2024 European Brand Awareness Study reveals an 8.8% jump in recognition across the region, with younger audiences leading the charge. But it’s more than just a logo: 90% of consumers believe businesses should be held accountable for their social and environmental impact. As awareness grows, so does the expectation for businesses to do better—and B Corps are obviously meeting the moment.
Doing good is good for business, according to the UK’s thriving B Corps. New data from B Lab UK shows they’re growing faster, hiring more, and making a bigger impact than ordinary businesses. In the past year, UK B Corps saw turnover rise by 23.2%–well above the national average–while also adding jobs as others cut back.
Now home to the world’s largest B Corp community, the UK boasts 2,400+ certified businesses proving that profit and purpose go hand in hand. And with new certification standards on the way, the movement is just getting started.
In B-Corp Month March, the network also celebrated International Women’s Day by shining a light on women-owned B Corps and leaders redefining business as a force for good. Across the community, 32% of B Corps worldwide are women-owned, and 41% have majority women leadership.
Yet, progress remains slow, according to the network: the global gender gap has only closed by 68%, with full equality still projected to be 134 years away. To help change that, B Lab Europe, B Lab US & Canada, and B Lab UK are offering a 40% Equity Discount to make B Corp certification more accessible to underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women-owned small businesses under €5M. (NAN/B-Lab 05-04-250)
New Zealand B-Corp brand Untouched World makes socks from yarn scraps bound for landfill – Image: Neuseeland Australien News (NAN)
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