Trade shows and corporate events have become synonymous with “waste,” contributing to more than 600,000 tons of garbage in our landfills each year. At this rate, creating a sustainable future seems to be inching further away. At Steelhead, we understand the anxiety this causes for corporate event marketers. But the good news is, with the right partnerships in place, it’s not too late to make an impactful difference.
Many companies claim to be “green”. So what does it mean to be a B Corp, and how is this different from other sustainable initiatives? Eliza Erskine, the founder of Green Buoy Consulting and Steelhead’s B Corp consultant, explains the process behind acquiring a B Corp certification:
“Basically, a B Corp is an external certification granted by the B Lab. You have to legally change your business status to a benefit corporation, meaning you’re committed to people, the planet, and profit. To get the certification, companies must take an assessment with 120 questions that examine five key areas: workers, governance, environment, community, and customers. They need to score an 80 or higher to qualify, but unfortunately, the average company scores around 50. Many companies claim to be green, but it simply does not equal B Corp.”