Skidmore Group is proud to announce its certification as a B Corporation. You may have noticed some earlier updates regarding this initiative: We have been talking about becoming B Corp certified since 2018 and have worked hard in 2019 to obtain it. But what is B Corp certification, and why is it important?
A B Corporation is an organization that uses the power of business for good. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
The world has been changing (fast), and success in business should no longer be defined by a corporation’s bottom line alone, but also by their impact on employees, communities, and the environment.
A new global economy with this mindset is taking shape. One in which companies understand that they must be the change we seek in the world; that business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered; that, through products, practices and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all; and finally, that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.
This is what B Corp stands for; we think it’s pretty amazing, and upon hearing about it, we were so inspired that we wanted to be part of this movement.
B Corps™ is administered by the non-profit B Lab®. Certifying as a B Corporation goes beyond product- or service-level certification. Instead, it measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance, and evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impacts workers, community, environment, and customers. It goes deep into a company’s supply chain and input materials to charitable giving and employee benefits. B Corp Certification proves a business is meeting the highest standards of verified performance.
For the Skidmore Group, business is a platform for magnifying the best intentions of people and focus them on creating a powerful change in the world. By becoming a certified B corporation, it joins global companies such as Patagonia, Etsy, Ben & Jerry’s, and local companies such as Ocean’s and Fairware in using the power of business for good.
Skidmore Group is among the first family offices to get certified. “Committing to the higher standards that come with B Corp certification is still rare for family offices. However, we believe in creating a better world by accelerating this process and invite other investment firms to join us. After all, through investments we can determine which initiatives are supported by capital” said Skidmore Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Rick Christiaanse.
Skidmore Group’s investments decisions consider the impact target acquisitions have on the environment, as well as rigorous standards on how employees are treated. In addition, its looking to drive the B Corporation mindset and behavior into Skidmore Group’s current portfolio of investments. The company will celebrate this achievement with a beach clean-up under the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup program.
More information:
· B Corp Certification: https://bcorporation.net/
