Alpkit Achieves 'B Corporation' Certification For Social And Environmental Practice
Press Release / 19.09.2020
Alpkit is excited to announce that we’ve reached a significant milestone: achieving certification as a B Corporation.
From day one, Alpkit has always tried to do things the right way. We’re advocates of the highest ethical standards and have always chosen the most environmentally preferable methods of production. We make affordable mountain gear without compromise to performance or sustainability.
That’s why we are where we are today and clearer than ever about what we stand for.
We’re hugely excited to announce that we’ve reached a significant milestone and completed the wildly exacting and rigorous process to become a Certified B Corporation.
We have valued the B Corp certification process so highly because it’s hard earned and comprehensive in its view. We share B corps ethos and we can’t stand still. There is no tick box for sustainability, and its simplest form we just need to do more good things and less bad things
B Corps are businesses that meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It is one of the only certifications that is not for a product or service, but for the whole business behind the product or service.
In becoming a B Corp Alpkit is joining an ever-growing group of businesses that are recognised for using business as a force for good.
David Hanney, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder said: “I’ve always believed that good businesses are a force for positive change making a meaningful impact on our communities, environment and broader industry. We are delighted to achieve B Corp Certification at our first attempt. B Corp gives us the strongest framework to build on these foundations and create more sustainable futures for us all”
Nick Smith, Managing Director and co-founder said: “Many businesses see sustainability coming at a price tag. We see things differently as we know that well thought through designs made with quality materials by the best factories are inherently the best performing and most sustainable. It is great for us to adopt the B Corps framework as it so closely aligned to our core principles.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK said: “Alpkit has a wonderful mission to help people Go Nice Places Do Good Things, inspiring a community that loves and connects with the world’s wild places. We are delighted they have certified as a B Corp, joining our ever-growing group of companies using business as a force for good. Alpkit’s commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit”.
About Alpkit:
Alpkit was founded over a decade to go with a clear commitment to make accessible mountain gear without compromise to performance or sustainability. Our design ethos is set in stone: to make Gear You Love For Longer, as we know the gear you use year after year and form a lifelong relationship with is ultimately the most sustainable.
B Corp Certification:
The certification is issued by B Lab UK, the not-for-profit organisation behind the B Corp movement. The certification covers five key areas: governance, worker, community, environment and customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach certain benchmark scores while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, staff compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company then legally embeds its commitment to purpose beyond profit in the company articles.
The B Corp community in the UK represents a broad cross section of industries and sizes of currently over 300 companies, including well-known brands such as innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop, Finisterre, Picture Organic Clothing as well as Abel & Cole.
