Fashion brand, Wild Rose, has announced today its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. Wild Rose has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required 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. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.
Wild Rose is now part of a community of over 9,000 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in Africa, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 90 companies and include well-known brands such as Danone, La Laiterie du Berger, Attitude Hospitality Ltd and Renewvia Energy.
Recent attention on the fashion industry makes Wild Rose’s B Corp certification a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector.
Lucy Muigai, Executive Director of B Lab Africa, says “We are delighted to welcome Wild Rose to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Wild Rose are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming Wild Rose is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the fashion industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Wild Rose in paving the way for a new way of doing things”.
“Being able to welcome Wild Rose to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Their 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 B Lab Africa:
B Lab Africa is transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our global community includes over 9,500 B Corps in 105 countries and 160 industries, and over 6,100 companies in Africa manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.
