Aēsop achieves Certified B Corporation status as it seeks to become a more powerful force for good

Skincare brand Aēsop has reached a “significant milestone” in its goal of becoming fully regenerative by 2030 after achieving Certified B Corporation status.

The brand, which was founded in Australia in 1987 and is part of Natura & Co, has now formally been recognised for demonstrating the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, to balance profit and purpose.

Aēsop director of innovation Dr Kate Forbes, who led the certification process, said: “The many challenges we have faced globally in 2020 have brought into focus the responsibility that each of us, as individuals and businesses, has to change our future.

“Passing the rigorous standards required to become a Certified B Corporation is part of Aēsop’s commitment as a business to use our profit and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact to our employees, communities, and the environment.

“It has been a two-year journey for Aēsop as a growing, multinational organization to make the changes required and we are very proud to have achieved this certification, but this is not the end goal. We are committed to transparency and continuously raising the expectations.”

Becoming a Certified B Corporation required Aēsop to demonstrated high standards in the five key areas of governance, workers, environment, customers and community.

Key takeouts from Aēsop’s report include the publication of its inaugural Sustainability Report in 2019, the offsetting of 10,550 tonnes of CO2 equivalent across four certified projects in Australia, India and Zimbabwe last year and Leaping Bunny approval, confirming that Aesop’s products never have or will be tested on animals.

Last year the Aesop Foundation, set up to support the development of literacy in marginalised communities, also committed over AUS$1.5m to its charity partners, while each employee gives back 1% of their time to working with local communities.

As part of Natura &Co, Aēsop is committed to an ambitious sustainability vision for 2030; pledging to ensure all packaging is reusable, recyclable and/or compostable, achieve net zero carbon emissions and to nurture a more inclusive, engaged culture, where employees can contribute to strategy.