Stamp of Approval: Sustainability Labels & Certifications
Purpose Talks
The Farm Standard - A Cute Little Frog
Abragita tao is the CEO of Ri o, a company that certifies products and farmers. The organisation works with companies across 13 sectors and half a million farmers. She explains how certification helps build relationships between brands and farmers.
In this episode we talk to 3 change-makers about how brands can use sustainability certifications as a framework to grow their social impact initiatives.
It seems like every month there's a new certification program to adhere to or another label to identify on products. At this point, there are hundreds of ways to define sustainability and consumers don’t know what to look for anymore. How do we navigate the ocean of certification programs? Are labels the best way for companies to communicate their social impact or are they just another vehicle for greenwashing?
In this episode, we filter through the ocean of certifications and talk to three certification programs that truly get it right. You will learn why companies should look to labels as a way to reach their sustainability goals, how certification programs can increase local impact and what the future of sustainability certification looks like.
We chat with:
Rebecca Quirk (she/her) is a Community Engagement Manager at B Lab US & Canada where she works with North American based B Corps to make the most of the certification and scale their impact. Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. There are over 4000 B Corps and each is legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
Aparajita Bhalla is the Senior Director of Markets Transformation at the Rainforest Alliance, an international NGO on a mission to create a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. She leads Rainforest Alliance's corporate engagement portfolio, which focuses on influencing corporate policy, resources, behavior and practices for the betterment of farmers and forest communities across the globe.
Kate Williams is CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement that inspires action and commitment so that our planet and future generations thrive. 1% for the Planet’s global network of thousands of businesses and individuals have given $100s of millions to environmental partners to date.
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Have thoughts or feedback about the show? Don’t be a stranger! Email me at izzy@businessofpurpose.com
Dive deeper into TrendWatching’s Label-Led MakeShift issue & make sure to check out our monthly MakeShift issues here.
Check out Brandon Stover’s podcast, Evolve with Brandon Stover. He has lots of cool guests on there!
Tools and resources:
- B Impact Assessment
- Rainforest Alliance 2020 Certification Program
- 1% for the Planet Business Membership
Stats, stories and insights mentioned:
- Swedish labeling scheme
- Capgemini survey
- BrewDog employee letter
- Follow the Frog campaign
- Colombian coffee study & other insights
- 3% of philanthropy goes towards environmental causes
The episode is the brainchild of TrendWatching and Business of Purpose. It was produced, written and hosted by Izzy Ahrbeck and edited by the brilliant Terence Moore. The music is by The Other Steve. Podcast artwork by Zuzanna Loch and Nikki Ritmeijer.
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