Sucseed balances profit and purpose
Sucseed becomes Newfoundland and Labrador’s first B Corps certified company
St. John’s social enterprise Sucseed has always takeb pride in making sustainability a core company value.
But in the process of becoming Newfoundland and Labrador’s first Certified B Corporation, CEO Emily Bland learned there was plenty more it could do as a socially responsible business.
And she’s more than up to the challenge.
“When we actually started the certification process, our score was only 84, which is enough to get passed,” explained Bland, who has been with Sucseed since it started several years ago within the volunteer, student-run organization Enactus Memorial. “But through working with the B Lab team and the audit process, we actually found places to increase our score by over 20 points, which is a bit unusual for going through the certification process.
“But it was things like looking at different policies that we have. Increasing our lens of diversity. Looking into some of our packaging materials. The office spaces in which we work. They do a really great job of going through every aspect — whether it’s hiring process, whether it’s where you operate or the supplier relationships ... — to find those ways in which you can improve.”
SUSTAINABLE VISION
As a business, Sucseed’s roots are firmly planted in offering the world a more sustainable future. They work with schools, community centres, retirement complexes and homes across Canada to promote indoor gardening. The company sells a variety of kits and packages that help people get started on indoor growing and hydroponic projects.
In the K-12 system, this helps youth gain a better understanding of agriculture and how individuals can contribute to the fight against food insecurity.
“When it came to teaching youth about agriculture, for us it was really important it was done through a sustainability lens,” Bland said. “Looking at local food production not just as something that benefits local businesses and communities as a whole, but also looking at the environmental effects of it.
“You don’t have to wrap herbs in thick layers of plastic and transport them thousands of kilometres around the world ... What type of environmental benefits are associated with that (and) what type of health benefits are there when you’re eating fresh produce straight off the vine or from local options instead of things that are further away?”
Bland and Sucseed’s head of operations Andrea Peet were discussing how to make the company economically, environmentally and socially sustainable when they first learned about B Corps certification. The gist of the program, overseen by the nonprofit group B Lab, is to recognize companies that balance profit and purpose. There are almost 4,000 Certified B Corporation businesses globally and more than 300 in Canada.
Sucseed is the 14th Atlantic Canadian business to obtain certification. Prior to Sucseed’s certification, Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province in Canada without a B Corps-certified company.
BIG AUDIT
The audit process was extensive and spanned two years.
“For us, it was kind of proving that we don’t just talk the talk, but we’re also committed to walking the walk,” Bland said. “A lot of times, we found that especially with companies more in the for-profit sector, you make all these lofty claims about what you’re doing from an environmental perspective ... and then if you dive into what companies are actually doing, it doesn’t actually ring true. B Corps status is a layer of trust between us as an organization with Sucseed and the customers.”
Becoming a Certified B Corporation allows the company to network and learn from likeminded business who are part of the B Corps community.
“There’s opportunities for collaboration with other B Corps companies,” Bland said. “They’re really great at promoting and helping you to get your brand out across Canada and around the world. Then we also get access to the B Hive, which is an opportunity to network and chat with other B Corps.”
With Sucseed now officially in, Bland hopes more local companies jump on board with the movement.
“We’re excited that there’s more companies going through the process (in Newfoundland and Labrador), and we really hope that getting the word out there about B Corps, the benefits associated with doing it, ends up with even more companies going through the certification process.”