Armed with our B Corp® Pending status, we’ve set in action our first project to help improve our natural environment and support our local community …
At R&A Graphics we’ve set out on our [cringes at the potential use of the word “journey” – checks thesaurus for an alternative] path towards full B Corp® certification. In our first year of operation, we fulfilled the requirements necessary to achieve Pending Status, and work commenced at the beginning of the year to fully complete the B Corp® impact assessment and achieve (at least) the all-important score of 80 points.
As a micro business, there are some aspects of the impact assessment which are more difficult for us to attain a decent score against than others. In these early stages we need to focus on, and garner as much credit from, the aspects that are most applicable, and express our ambition (what we plan to do when the time comes) for those that aren’t.
To support the Environment and Community aspects of our B Corp® Impact Assessment, we launched our 1% Initiative at the beginning of April. For every order we receive, we will donate 1% of the invoice value to one of three local causes on our doorstep that have a positive impact on the natural environment. These are:
Rattlesden Beekeepers
We need bees. We may take them and other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies for granted, but they’re vital to stable, healthy food supplies and key to the varied, colourful and nutritious diets we need (and have come to expect). We are fortunate to have four beekeepers in the village and our support will help them maintain and expand their colonies of bees.
Planting of new trees and hedgerow at Hollybush Farm
R&A Graphics is situated at Hollybush Farm in Rattlesden – a working farm run by our landlord Peter Mahony and his father Richard. A lot of work goes into maintaining existing hedgerow and woodland, as well as establishing new areas where required. Our funding will either be used to increase the amount of new trees / hedgerow planted, or pay for enhanced species that create richer and more diverse ecosystems.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Bradfield Woods
Situated less than two and a half miles from our printshop, Bradfield Woods is one of Britain’s finest ancient woodlands and a glorious haven for wildlife. It’s a working wood and unique, having been under continuous traditional coppice management since 1252, fulfilling local needs for firewood and hazel products. Our support will help the trust maintain the wood for generations to come.
Each time we invoice a customer, they’re invited to decide how they would like their 1% to be distributed. We intend to distribute the funds every six months. The first six months will draw to an end on the 30th September, and the funds generated will be distributed in early October.
As the new six month period begins, we’ll be taking time away from our desks to provide additional hands on support to the causes we’ve partnered with and see how our funds are used. This will in turn support the community aspect of our B Corp® impact assessment.
As a micro business, the sums of money involved are small but, as we (hopefully) grow the business and the 1% gets to be more substantial, we plan to do more good in our local community. In addition to this environmental initiative, we also have plans to support individuals and groups to achieve their goals.
Times are currently tough for all individuals and businesses, and we appreciate not everyone can do what we’re doing / plan to do. However, if you can, we would urge you to do something similar. It’s a great way to use business as a force for good, and keeping it local means your efforts are more tangible.