B CORPORATION®
Wellworking is a Certified B Corporation® which means we are committed to putting people and the planet first.
One of Wellworking’s core principles is to work towards a sustainable and socially responsible future and B Corp has provided us with a framework to approach this with.
WHAT IS A B CORP?
We have now joined a global community of over 8,000 companies that are working to use business as a force for good so that the economy benefits all people, communities, and the planet.
The B Corp community in the UK, represents a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises of over 2,000 companies and includes well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and Abel & Cole.
The certification covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. Wellworking had to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.
WHY GET CERTIFIED?
This isn’t simply a nice to have, marketing exercise, we are committed to making real changes to the way we operate. For example, in order to complete the certification, our directors legally embedded their commitment to purpose beyond profit in the company articles.
Putting people and the planet above profits may not appear at first glance to be a recipe for financial success, but we believe becoming a Certified B Corporation is good for business and something that the furniture industry can play a big role in.
Our customers rightly demand the highest standards of environmental and social behaviour from their supply chain, so being able to provide measurable proof of our commitment in this area is important.
Likewise, we expect the same standards from our own supply chain and can support them better to deliver on those now.
Our colleagues also want to know that the company they work for will treat them with the highest levels of respect as employees.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Our staff are really proud to be working for a B Corp which has such a focus on making a difference, both locally and for the planet.
What we’ve learnt is that being a B Corp isn’t about standing out from the crowd. In many ways, it’s actually the reverse, because we are now part of a global community of businesses committed to working in a more transparent and accountable way.
It’s fair to say the furniture retail industry is not as well represented as it should be, given the impact we have and the role we can play on the nation’s sustainability agenda. So, one of our goals at Wellworking is to share our experience with other companies who might be asking the same questions we are about how to do business.
What we’ve realised is that becoming a B Corp is not the finish line. Instead, it’s the start of a programme of continuous improvement as to how we act as a company, how we treat our colleagues and customers, and the role we play in providing a more sustainable future for our planet.