Christchurch Companies Leading the Way*

Three Christchurch businesses are among the first four in New Zealand to be internationally recognized for doing business that creates value beyond the bottom line.

Eagle Protect, Ethique, and Global Cycling Adventures have all been certified as B Corporations, a global network of elite companies that are genuinely committed to their people, the planet, as well as profit The certification process measures performance, transparency, and commitment to these goals. B Corporations are legally bound to consider the impact their decisions have on all their stakeholders, from shareholders, employees, suppliers and customers to the wider community and environment.

Steve Ardagh, CEO of Eagle Protect says, “Having 3 out of the 4 New Zealand B Corps based in Christchurch is quite special. Christchurch is a place of transformation – more and more companies are re-working their current structures into new, progressive models that embed social and environmental commitments into the company blueprint. B Corp fits this.”

"To have a community of B Corps based locally can only help grow the city as a place for sustainable business to flourish.”

Certified B Corporations are leading a global movement to redefine success in business and are distinguishing themselves in a cluttered marketplace by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.

Brianne West, founder of Ethique said, “I founded Ethique with the outrageous goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable cosmetic company which is easy to say, much harder to achieve. Becoming a B Corp not only showed everyone out there that we are serious about it, but it also helped us develop a framework for a few systems and checks we didn’t already have in place.”

B Corporation Certification also opens up an international network of businesses for New Zealand companies who are prepared to go through the certification process. Ralph Freeman, owner of Global Cycling Adventures was keen to get involved and be part of the global community.

“When we were presented with the idea of becoming a B Corporation we jumped on board right away. Not only did it match the heart of our company and what we were already doing, but we saw it as a way to increase our global reach to a group of people who see the world the same way we do.”

Eagle Protect is a testament to how this international network can work for New Zealand business. It’s opened doors and given them the confidence to open a California office which is expected to be in full operation later this year.

To put it simply, B Corporation is like Fair Trade, but for the whole business, not just a bag of coffee, and these three Christchurch businesses are helping to put New Zealand on the map.

Examples of other international B Corporations include Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s and KeepCup.

About B Corporations

Certified B Corporations meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests, and build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. There are more than 1,200 Certified B Corporations from over 120 industries and nearly 50 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business. B Corporations are leaders of the global movement of People Using Business as a Force for Good.

About Global Cycling Adventures

Global Cycling Adventures was established in 2001 to provide exciting biking tours around the world. The focus is on delivering unique tours in locations that follow the same quality standard of service no matter where you are in the world. Tours offered are off the beaten tourist paths whilst some will be renowned locations that no global directly would be complete without. The company is privately held and headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand. For more information, please visit www.globalcyclingadventures.com.  

About Eagle Protect

We are a Christchurch-based, specialised importer and distributor of single-use disposable goods for the food processing and preparation industries, the medical sector, automotive, cleaning industry and any other major users of these products. A US branch based in California will be operational by the end of 2015.

About Ethique

Ethique is a 100% solid skin and hair care company based in Christchurch, New Zealand. They are committed to making amazing-smelling, seriously bubbly hair, face and body bars using natural ingredients and minimal packaging. Their lab is powered by 100% renewable energy, they are proudly certified climate-neutral and are a business where sustainability runs deep.

In the first instance for more information please contact:
Leigh Gray
Digital Operative
leigh@digitaloperative.co.nz
021 119 6642