Young Folks first became a Certified B Corp in 2022. Coincidentally, 2022 marked the warmest year on record in 28 countries – in areas where 850 million people live.
It’s now March 2024, and the end of B Corp Month. And this past January was the warmest on record, globally.
The relentless pursuit of profit has left a trail of destruction in its wake, from environmental degradation to social inequality, and marketing, branding and advertising plays a big role in all of this. But we believe that this industry doesn’t have to be a tool for exploitation.
Our founder, Erin Morris, started Young Folks with a clear purpose: to use business as a force for good, and create the change the world needs by accelerating the growth and amplifying the impact of socially and environmentally responsible brands.
Erin had a realisation that the skills teams like ours possess can be harnessed for positive change. Because the truth is, we can’t afford to wait any longer. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of inaction are too dire. Climate change, social inequity, and environmental degradation isn’t some faraway thing that might affect future generations – it’s happening right now. And it’s affecting us all.
That’s why we became a B Corp.
The B Corp certification measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact, and puts its ethics and values to the test. Achieving B Corp certification confirms that we’re meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
It holds us accountable for every decision we make, right down to the clients we choose to partner with. We’re talking stacks of receipts to back up all of our claims.
A score of 80 across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers on the B Impact Assessment (BIA) is required to attain B Corp certification. We scored 111.1 when we certified and are aiming to increase that further when we recertify.
Our B Corp certification isn’t just about us, though. It’s about the bigger picture. It’s about joining a movement, and a community of like-minded businesses who refuse to accept the status quo. It’s about proving that profitability and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive, and that you can do well by doing good.
There’s no sugar coating it. The B Corp certification process is lengthy, gruelling and definitely requires a few cups of sustainably-sourced coffee to get through. What’s that saying about nothing good ever being easy?
And it’s true.
More and more consumers are demanding transparency and accountability from the companies they support. They want to know that the products they buy and the services they use align with their values.
That’s where certifications like B Corp come in. For agencies like us, it shows challenger brands that we’re in it for the same reasons they are. And for brands, it’s a sign to your customers that you’ve made an ongoing commitment to make a positive impact on the world they live in. Not just endlessly grow revenue and profits at the expense of their future.
At the time of writing this, there are over 8,254 certified B Corps across 162 industries in 96 countries. That’s a huge amount, and we’re stoked about it.
But we know the world needs more.
So if it’s something you keep moving to the bottom of your to-do list, or adding to your yearly business plan (every year), or telling people you’ll get round to, take this as your sign. Print this out, stick it on your fridge, email it to yourself everyday for the next week – do whatever you need to do to keep it front of mind.
Make 2024 the year you join the best community of businesses out there. Yeah, that includes us.
Need help thinking up ideas to increase your impact and make 2024 a year of meaningful change? Why not take a look at our positive impact cards. And find everything you need to know about becoming a B Corp here.
