Good Design Australia has joined the global community of businesses and organisations that meet high standards of social and environmental impact by becoming a certified B Corporation (B Corp).
B Corps believe in a better economic system where businesses can create value for people, communities and the planet.
“Becoming a certified B Corp has been a long-standing goal for us,” says Dr. Brandon Gien, chair of Good Design Australia.
“As a team, we believe that design holds the power to drive positive change—from enhancing environmental sustainability to fostering social impact. It was important for us to align our actions with these values.
“By becoming a B Corp, we’re taking that commitment further, not just in our work, but in the way we operate as an organisation. This certification is a clear signal to our Good Design community that we’re dedicated to contributing to a better, more sustainable future for all,” says Gien.
Many Australian Good Design award winners are B Corps and we’re constantly inspired by the incredible work they’re doing to drive the transition to a more sustainable future, adds Rachel Wye, managing director of Good Design Australia.
“Becoming a B Corp is no small feat—it took us over a year to become certified and the process really looks at every aspect of your business,” she explains.
“Our certification is then reviewed every three years to ensure we’re staying true to our intentions. But we’re excited by the accountability it brings.
“As a B Corp organisation, you really have to walk the talk, which is something we embrace. This process is helping us make better, more impact-driven decisions—a value that lies at the heart of our annual Australian Good Design Awards and as an international design promotion organisation.”
While it’s still early days, there are already tangible areas of impact that Good Design Australia is making, setting a benchmark for other design promotion organisations to follow.
“Our agreement with AirSeed to fund reforestation in Australia is just one example of how we’re focusing on environmental impact. We’ve also made changes to our internal policies, from the design of our trophies to implementing charitable initiatives embedded in our payment systems,” adds Wye.
“We have always strived for improvements big and small in everything we do, but we think that becoming part of a bigger collective that consistently holds you accountable will push us to dream even bigger when it comes to our impact in the world and what we can achieve.”
