Today we celebrate four freshly Certified B Corporations in our local Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. From the home to the workplace to the device in the palm of our hand, this cohort of B’s exist within a diverse range of industries.
Hone Built is thinking holistically about the construction of our homes. Modibodi is empowering consumers with reusable personal care innovations. George Walkers is keeping office furniture in circulation, and No Moss Co is taking a human-led approach to creating impactful digital experiences.
Each of these B Corps may come at the idea of ‘better business’ from different angles. But in their own way, each demonstrates that a sustainable balance of priorities between people, planet, and profits just makes good sense.
Join us in welcoming these new B Corps!
Home sweet Hone Built
Hone Built is an architectural building firm specialising in conscious home construction. They adopt a ‘passive home’ approach, which is all about designing in harmony with nature, down to the choice of insulation, materials, and airways, to minimise the need for additional heating and cooling.
This family business, founded by two brothers, has cultivated a close-knit team based in Melbourne’s inner-eastern and inner-northern suburbs. They’re united by a commitment to continuously seek opportunities for improvement, particularly by learning from each other.
Image: Hone Built
Hone Built recognises the construction industry’s role in responding to climate change, mitigating waste, and protecting biodiversity within our natural habitats. In a recent blog article, they offer this food for thought:
“The igloos of the Arctic, yurts on the steppes of Central Asia and the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde all have a common thread – they were built for their environment, out of local natural materials, and could comfortably be labelled as ‘sustainable’ in today’s terms. This demonstrates one important point in defining a sustainable building – context.”
– Hone Built
In this way, Hone Built considers the holistic impact of each build including the lifecycle of the home, the raw materials, the environmental context, and the impact on the wider community.
“Our biggest impacts are a combination of the quality/performance of our builds, along with our resource practices – reusing as many materials as possible, be that via selling/donating, making bespoke furniture or reusing in our projects.”
– Hone Built
Just like our beloved earth, there’s no place like home. This is why Hone Built would like to see stronger industry standards and regulations around the selection of raw materials that go into creating residential builds.
“We would love to see all new homes built to a higher standard, with mandatory post-construction verification to ensure they meet the standards they were designed to. We would also like to see greater transparency regarding the embodied carbon of construction materials/products and incentives or regulations to further hasten the transition toward a truly sustainable construction industry.”
– Hone Built
Image: Hone Built
Hone Built’s message to other businesses, particularly those young or emerging, is to fearlessly dive straight into the B Impact Assessment (BIA) as soon as possible, allowing yourself to set aside any expectations of perfection or urgency that might be holding you back. Day one isn’t about climbing the mountain, it’s just about reading the map.
“Start now! Even if you’re not ready, start the BIA to get a better understanding of what’s involved. Once you’ve got that understanding, set the time to work towards your goals. B Corp Certification has been a goal of Hone Built since our inception over four years ago. Working our way through the BIA, whilst time-consuming, has been a thoroughly worthwhile experience that has given the business a great opportunity to grow in the right manner.”
– Hone Built
Combating inequality with Modibodi
It’s been just over 10 years since Australian brand Modibodi released their flagship range to the world – innovative leak-proof underwear that would address menstrual and bladder leaks, all while serving as an alternative to single-use disposable options.
Image: Modibodi
For founder Kristy Chong it was a personal experience with light incontinence while training for a marathon that inspired the Modibodi concept. Surprised by the lack of progress within the personal care space, she saw an opportunity to create a product that empowers and a platform to destigmatize the traditionally taboo topics of menstruation and incontinence.
In both marketing and product design Modibodi brings inclusion and equality to the forefront. With the support of their community, they have donated hundreds of thousands of products worldwide to support those experiencing period inequality.
Not one to go with the flow, Modibodi’s innovative ethos is just as strong today as it was in 2013. Some of their most recent initiatives include biodegradable underwear, a ground-breaking sweat-proof bra, swimwear, and period activewear in collaboration with PUMA.
“We have been celebrated for creating products for and showcasing real bodies, real people and real stories. We create impact through normalising periods and removing embarrassment by making products that make people feel confident, as well as leading conversations through our diverse range of products for men, women and children and adaptive underwear and designs for members of the LGBTQ community.”
“We also have a strong focus on giving back to the community and ensuring dignity to those who may have no period options through product donation and the Game Changer Grant. The brand has donated over 201,000 products through the assistance of customers and has influenced better education and access to products for youth, specifically in the UK addressing the cost of living crisis.”
– Modibodi
Each pair of Modibodi underwear is made with carefully selected feel-good fibres including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton as well as renewable and recycled fabrics.
“The material we use represents a strategic decision to ensure environmental and social improvements. We work with suppliers and the supply chain to ensure transparency, including a living wage audit. Modibodi has made many changes to be on a continuous improvement pathway.”
“Within the textile industry, we would welcome a reduction in the use of virgin synthetics and the upscaling of circular textile recycling. We would like to see more collaboration of brands supporting their suppliers to make improvements through investment in knowledge sharing.”
– Modibodi
Image: Modibodi
“We would also welcome greater education and understanding in the community on the importance of buying durable, reusable, quality products that last and less single-use or low-quality products. This would demonstrate a value for the resources, time and energy used to create the product.”
– Modibodi
Having recently certified, Modibodi had some sage words to share about the importance of getting your team excited, involved, and included in the B Corp experience early on.
“Launch the assessment process with stakeholders from across the business, talking through the details and importance of each area. It’s important to have team buy-in, as data is required from across the business to pull the assessment together.”
– Modibodi
Promoting second-hand with George Walkers office furniture
There’s something special about finding that exact item you’ve been searching for second-hand – knowing that it has a pre-existing history, that you are continuing its story and helping keep it in circulation.
It’s a sentiment the team at George Walkers shares. They specialise in recycling and repurposing cubical castaways, helping businesses create functional and affordable office spaces that are a delight to work in. They have diverted an impressive 5000 cubic metres worth of office furniture from landfill and donated a further 2000 to the community.
George Walkers pride themselves on upholding high standards when it comes to transparency and circularity, but what’s also clear is the passion for people too. The Aotearoa New Zealand-based business has adopted local hiring initiatives, skill development programs, and partnerships with a number of not-for-profit organisations.
Image: George Walkers
“What makes us stand out is our commitment to sustainability through the circular economy. It isn’t just about reducing costs; it’s about reducing waste and minimising our environmental footprint. By offering gently used, high-quality office furniture, we contribute to the extension of product lifecycles, diverting items from landfills and promoting a more sustainable approach to business furnishing.”
“By offering second-hand office furniture, we significantly reduce the demand for new production, conserving valuable resources and lowering carbon emissions associated with manufacturing. Our emphasis on quality ensures that every piece has a lasting impact, promoting a culture of reuse and reducing the overall environmental impact of office furnishing.”
– George Walkers
George Walkers encourages corporates to consider the long-term lifecycle of their office furniture, emphasising not only environmental benefits but financial benefits too.
“By adopting a philosophy of repurposing, companies not only contribute to the reduction of waste but also actively engage in the circular economy. Transforming redundant furniture into new and functional pieces minimises environmental impact and offers a resourceful approach to resource management.”
“Choosing furniture of high quality with an eye towards eventual resale or reuse not only extends the lifespan of the items but also proves economically prudent. Businesses can recover a portion of their initial investment, redirecting funds towards more strategic endeavours.”
– George Walkers
Image: George Walkers
The George Walkers team shared that, in their experience, working through the BIA was as much an exercise in team building as it was in understanding their impact as an organisation.
“It was a profound exercise in aligning our values with concrete actions. It provided a structured framework for us to quantify and validate the principles that have been ingrained in our organisational DNA since our inception. As we navigated through the rigorous standards and assessments, we found ourselves not only meeting criteria but also discovering new ways to integrate purpose-driven initiatives into our everyday operations.”
“The shared pursuit of certification fostered a sense of camaraderie among our management team. We faced challenges together, celebrated milestones collectively, and found innovative solutions as a cohesive unit.”
– George Walkers
No Moss Co is co-designing with compassion
Based between Sydney and Melbourne, No Moss Co is a human-led consultancy firm helping organisations turn their digital product dreams into reality. With a three-pronged approach, they guide teams through the art of mindset, agility, and team skills, while aligning them with the right technology and savvy product strategy.
No Moss Co operates under the belief that investing in the individualism and creativity of your team yields superior results, and of course, makes for a more enjoyable place to work too! They prioritise empathy and compassion, fostering an environment where their team is encouraged to celebrate uniqueness.
This ethos extends beyond the office to the projects they choose to work on. The firm was recently celebrated for its contribution to a new app called ‘Chop Out Convos‘, a free AI-supported initiative that promotes positive mental health by helping tradies check in with each other. The app, created in collaboration with IPC Health, HALT, and the Movember Foundation took home the 2023 Good Design Award for Social Impact and Digital Design.
“Our purpose starts with empowering our people, and we gained the highest points on the BIA in the area of workers. We believe that creating an environment where people can discover and pursue their own sense of purpose, will lead to more collaboration with each other and our clients to create impactful solutions that enhance our lives.”
– No Moss Co
Image: No Moss Co
“One of the ways we prioritise purpose internally is by hosting regular purpose conversations with every member of staff. These conversations are one-on-one where we ask our people to reflect on, explore, articulate and act on their own defined purpose. The conversations act as support to keep people accountable and provide potential organisational assistance to achieve their self-set goals. At a company level, we host purpose days tri-annually to inspect and collaborate on the wider organisation’s purpose and consider how we individually contribute to that purpose.”
“We find operating from a purpose and human-led approach sets us apart from other consultancies, as we prioritise interacting with empathy and curiosity to understand our clients, their needs, and ultimately their purpose.”
– No Moss Co
In working with their clients to develop new digital products, No Moss Co emphasise the importance of looking through a co-design lens, which involves meaningfully consulting with all stakeholders, particularly those that the product will impact.
“Approaching business and decision-making through co-design. Co-design asks us to design products, systems, processes, and organisations together with the involvement of the people whom the outcomes will impact. No Moss believes this is critical to designing and developing positive impactful outcomes for humanity and our environment, and must be at the heart of technological development and any innovation.”
– No Moss Co
Image: No Moss Co
No Moss Co admits that embarking on the BIA was a little overwhelming at first owing to the assessment’s scale and significance. But they maintained momentum by systematically going through each question, setting up a starting score, and then taking action where they saw room for improvement.
“The BIA can feel incredibly overwhelming in its entirety and people don’t know where to start. Even though it felt huge, our first step was to go through the whole assessment and answer every question to understand our current state. Regardless of your initial score, an overview of the whole assessment provides a holistic view to help shape a comprehensive framework for your entire business operations. You realise everything matters, and everything is connected – it encourages the systematic thinking required for the assessment.”
“With that broader perspective as our foundation, we could then prioritise and focus on individual questions/areas of the assessment and methodically work through any improvements or implementations we wanted to adopt as part of the assessment.”
“Bringing the whole organisation on the journey was important too. If you are an organisation without formal roles dedicated to sustainability, forming a special interest group is a great way to involve the people who are interested in the certification process. We also hosted whole company days dedicated to understanding and interrogating what being a B Corp would mean to us.”
– No Moss Co
A big thank you to Hone Built, Modibodi, George Walkers Office Furniture, and No Moss Co for taking the time to share their journeys with us. Visit the Blog to discover more newly certified B Corps, or the Directory to explore all local Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand-based B Corps.
