Lion has become a Certified B Corporation (B Corp), building on some of its individual brands having previously achieved B Corp status. For Lion CEO, Sam Fischer, it is a major achievement for the whole business to meet the criteria.
While individual Lion brands like Stone & Wood have previously been B Corp certified, this is a significant new achievement that extends to Lion's entire business.
“B Corp Certification provides independent verification of Lion’s commitment to measuring success not just in profit, but in the positive impact we create together with our partners,” Fischer said.
The process to be B Corp certified, involves the business meeting rigorous standards across five impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.
B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand CEO, Andrew Davies, said it was thrilled to welcome Lion to the community.
“Stone & Wood was one of the earliest businesses in the region to become B Corp Certified, and it’s exciting to see the broader Lion business take this next step.
“Our Theory of Change has always been grounded in the idea that early adopters would pave the way for larger, more complex businesses to follow, and Lion’s certification is that theory in action. When a large business like Lion uses B Corp Certification to measure and improve its impact, it sends a powerful message to the broader business community that it is possible to prioritise people and planet, alongside profit,” Davies said.
Raising the bar in the beverages industry
Lion joins a community of over 10,000 Certified B Corps globally, and an even smaller group of high-scale businesses which have successfully met B Lab’s comprehensive standards.
The certification process required Lion to score a minimum of 80 points on the B Impact Assessment. Lion scored 80.6, which is above the 50.9 median score for ordinary businesses. Lion has also amended its constitution to codify its directors’ duties to consider the long-term impacts of decisions on employees, suppliers, customers, communities, and the environment.
“When our trade partners choose to work with Lion, our B Corp Certification is further evidence that they’re partnering with a business that places people, planet, purpose, and profit on equal footing,” Fischer said.
Lion’s B Corp Certification follows several sustainability achievements, including:
- the first major brewer to source 100% renewable electricity for all its Australian operations;
- achieving its 2030 science-based carbon reduction targets in 2023, seven years early;
- running its major breweries at XXXX and Tooheys with world-class water efficiency;
- creating industry-leading packaging with 72% recycled content;
- leading people, diversity and inclusion practices; and
- a strong commitment to First Nations reconciliation and engagement.
Lion's B Impact Assessment score and detailed impact report are publicly available on the B Corp directory at bcorporation.net
