Pony Rider’s journey began in 2009 as a small trending cushion brand. Today, the company has expanded across bedding, canvas, and wall art. And with their award-winning Australian-made fine merino woollen blankets, industrial canvas bed throws, and bold cushions, they are making residential and commercial spaces feel like home and contributing to and protecting Australia’s wilderness through their National Project giveback program.
Recently, we welcomed Pony Rider to the B Corp Community. In celebration of their certification, we sat down with Pony Rider’s team to learn more about how they are always looking for better ways to make gear that is as low impact as possible.
Image: Pony Rider
What does Pony Rider do?
We make textiles using sustainable materials for a purpose-driven, adventurous life. We love making your spaces feel like home and thrive on seeing people out and about with our gear in their vans, tents, yurts, cabins or houses. We make goods to last and upcycle fabrics into cool home goods.
As part of our giveback program to the National Parks, currently we are helping restore huts in hopes of motivating people to get out and about and fall in love with nature. The National Project funds projects that protect and preserve our parks for the future.
You’ve come a long way down the sustainable road since you were founded. Why did you want to certify as a B Corp?
We recognise the value in committing to a process that benefits the planet as a united front.
We love working with like-minded people and connecting with other businesses with the same values and mindset.
We also hope to inspire others to make better choices for the planet.
Image: Pony Rider
What makes Pony Rider unique as a business? Tell us some of the areas where you have the biggest impact, or some of the little changes you’ve made to make a difference.
We support a lifestyle and present a great story on how you can live with sustainable goods and strive for a life with purpose.
We created a giveback to The National Parks to ignite people’s passion for adventure and the healing properties of being in nature and feeling connected. The National Project is our vehicle to serve and build up warriors one at a time. Our first project launched last year, funding restorative works on huts in the National Parks. As part of this project, we activated a charity hike into Kosciuszko National Park to the top of Australia. The feeling on the hike was progressive and inspiring, and we can’t wait to do more.
Utilising business as a vehicle to activate change is boundless.
It’s raised a million questions about our direction, which is part of the process that we thrive on. We can’t wait to see where we land with this project.
B Corps want to help transform our economy to one that is inclusive, sustainable, and regenerative. What business practice do you want to see become the norm?
We placed ourselves through the B Corp Certification process to be accountable.
At times uncomfortable and not an easy process, but we knew that being accountable was the only measure. We haven’t taken on this process for an external measure, although we don’t doubt we will benefit from it. We did it so that internally we could see on a global standard what we were and were not doing. The process, occasionally arduous, was honest and soul-baring.
So, accountability as a whole is something we’d like to see integrated into all new and old businesses.
Image: Pony Rider
Was there a B Corp that inspired you to certify, or one that you look to for inspiration?
Of course! Patagonia, for us, is the poster child of utilising business for people and the planet.
Do you have any tips for aspiring B Corps about the certification process?
We sure do. Our top three tips would be:
- Strap in, be patient and get on with your passion projects as they bring you the most rewards.
- If you can, hire a B Corp Consultant, they are worth their weight in gold.
- Smile at your colleagues cause they are building with you
A big thank you to Pony Rider for sharing their story with us. To find our more and explore their range of products, visit https://www.ponyrider.com.au/
