Australian organic snack food company, Whole Kids, has become the first Australian food company to be named a Certified B Corporation for its ethical practices.
It joins over 700 organisations around the world – including Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Etsy and Seventh Generation – who have gained the title for using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
Whole Kids was founded by James and Monica Meldrum with the aim of providing healthier additive-free food for their school lunchboxes and meals.
“We believe in ‘unjunking’ our lives and that wasteful materialism and consumerism needs to evolve to a more enlightened conscious consumption,” said James Meldrum.
“Whole Kids seeks a world where businesses contribute positively to a more sustainable, more equitable and more respectful relationship with all stakeholders, not just shareholders,” he said.
B Lab, a non-profit organisation that certifies and supports these so-called B Corporations, conducted a rigorous evaluation of Whole Kids to ensure that it met the standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
Unlike traditional corporations, Whole Kids is now required to consider the social and environmental impact of its decisions on its employees, suppliers, communities, consumers and the environment.
According to the company, its ethical stance is also translating into sales. In January 2013 the company achieved a 65 per cent increase in sales compared to January 2012.
The Meldrums have also set up a non-profit organisation, One Percent for Our Kids, which uses a one per cent contribution of Whole Kids' annual turnover to improve the health of children and the environment.
Whole Kids' ethical stance acknowledged with 'B Corporation' certification.
