Zusa is Now a Certified B Corp

The Zusa Brand’s B Corp Certification

As the climate crisis evolves, it’s increasingly clear that our actions and initiatives need to mature as well. Sustainability should never be a static box that we check off and forget about; our initiatives and practices should be a dynamic, ever-growing force. It’s not about recycling plastic just to say we do. It’s about looking at our environmental impact as a whole and identifying the countless ways our actions, whether harmful or helpful, have a real effect on the planet. 

When Zusa, one of our favorite brands to partner with, became carbon-neutral certified, we were proud to connect companies with their low-impact corporate apparel and gifts. Carbon neutrality is a goal many companies are working toward, but Zusa didn’t stop once they achieved it. Zusa has officially taken the steps to prove its B Corp status!

What Does B Corp Status Mean?

You’ve likely heard the term “B Corp,” and you may even know it has something to do with sustainability. You’d be correct, but B Corps are a lot more than just eco-friendly brands. B Corp certification means a holistic approach to business best practices, including sustainability, equity, and human rights. Becoming a certified B Corp requires transparency and accountability for the impact your company makes as a whole. A company must provide information on everything from employee benefits to supply chain transparency. B Corp certifications are given by B Lab, the nonprofit network that started it all.

History of B Corps

B Lab, the nonprofit organization that certifies B Corps, was founded in 2006 by Jay Coen Gilbert, Bart Houlahan, and Andrew Kassoy. They believed that businesses had the power, and the responsibility, to change the economy and therefore set humanity up for a better future. They wanted to help businesses take responsibility for their actions and to keep them on an ethical, sustainable track.

B Lab Mission and Vision

B Lab believes that since systems were created by people, they can be changed and improved by people. Corporations have contributed to a system that causes consistent environmental and social damage, but B Lab believes this isn’t how it has to be. Rather than accepting defeat, B Lab strives to create a culture of responsibility, accountability, and equity.

How to Become a Certified B Corp

To become a certified B Corp, businesses have to go through the B Impact Assessment, which looks at the business’s practices involving governance, workers, community, environmental impact, and customers. The minimum score required is 80 points, and the median score for businesses is only 50.9 points. Zusa, however, scored 123.3 on its overall B Impact Assessment, 72.4 points above the median.

After a company achieves a sufficient score on the B Impact Assessment, it’s all about accountability. B Corp certification candidates must then create a public profile on BCorporation.net, B Lab Global’s website. The company’s impact score is posted on this site for public transparency. Then, the B Corp candidate must sign the Declaration of Interdependence, and then sign an agreement to meet legal requirements for stakeholder governance.

Above all, a company must have a deeper purpose focused on positively impacting the planet and humanity. Since Zusa was created to offer sustainable corporate gift options, this environmental purpose is already built into everything the brand does.

Zusa Brand Environmental and Social Practices

100% of Zusa’s apparel and accessories are manufactured in WRAP-certified factories. WRAP facilities are carefully managed to ensure safe, fair, and comfortable working conditions and wages. In this way, Zusa is supporting a future of equitable working environments for the apparel industry.

As previously mentioned, Zusa is carbon-neutral certified. This means that for every ton of carbon Zusa’s manufacturing and distribution emits, Zusa will fund projects that remove one ton of carbon from the atmosphere. These projects include avoided deforestation in Brazil, renewable energy projects in the U.S., and landfill gas elimination in China.

Zusa is a 1% For The Planet member, which means that the brand donates 1% of its annual profits to environmental nonprofits. Additionally, 93% of Zusa’s products are made from recycled materials. So far, Zusa upcycled more than 6 million plastic water bottles to create its products.

Shop Sustainable Custom Apparel from Zusa

Interested in shopping corporate apparel and gifts that make a sustainable impact? Check out the 2024 Zusa Catalog! You’ll find the newest custom Zusa styles including branded quarter zips, custom hats and bags, logo-engraved drinkware, embroidered polos and tees, and much more. Zusa prides itself on creating comfortable, well-made, flattering products that your team members and gift recipients will love.

 

Contact Us

Ready to join in on Zusa’s B Corp mission? Contact us at Merchology! We’re here to connect you with the custom Zusa apparel, accessories, and gifts your brand needs to succeed. Whether you’re looking to refresh your corporate apparel or need branded promotional merch for your next corporate event, find what you’re looking for with Zusa.