“…verification felt like something bigger—a formal way to recognise that we are part of a global community dedicated to purpose and accountability”. – Darren Osborne, Co-founder of Braw Talent (Scotland), a People and Planet First verified enterprise.
People and Planet First Week 2024
The first ever People and Planet First Week was held from 18-22 November to celebrate and raise awareness of the growing movement of enterprises that prioritise people and planet over private profit. They include social enterprises, cooperatives, fair trade enterprises, social businesses and others.
People and Planet First is a verification and a global collective that’s accelerating the transition to an economy that puts people and the planet first.
From business owners to conscious consumers and advocates for a better world, the week offered opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations, discover People and Planet First verified enterprises, showcase products and services, connect with other verified enterprises and contribute to conversations on why doing business differently is essential to combatting climate injustice.
Two weeks prior to People and Planet First Week at the launch of People and Planet First in Scotland at Social Enterprise Summit Scotland 2024, Darren Osborne (Co-founder, Braw Talent, People and Planet First verified enterprise) shared during his speech that verification felt like a bigger and more formal way to be held accountable to running a business that focuses not only on community growth but also positively protects the environment.
The global campaign
Photo credit from top left to right: Hey Girls (UK), Klinik Kenit (Malaysia), COSV SE Unit (Lebanon), Adieu (Australia)
From 18-22 November, the global community mobilised around #PeopleAndPlanetFirstWeek and #PeopleAndPlanetFirst with hundreds of social media posts from verified enterprises, partners and supporters. Many enterprises shared photos of their People and Planet First certificates online with captions on why they got verified and their commitment to putting People and Planet First in their production processes and business decisions.
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), as steward of People and Planet First, also organised a free global virtual event as part of People and Planet First Week featuring verified enterprises, supporters and partners from across the world. The SEWF Social Enterprise Day event (November 21) featured panels, workshops and networking with participants from more than 85 countries. The recordings from the event are available on the SEWF Video Library. SEWF also featured an event directory throughout the month of November, showcasing social enterprise and new economy movement events from around the world.
The importance of verification for purpose-driven organisations
During the Social Enterprise Day event and speaking about putting People and Planet First, Juliana Adam, CEO of Biji-biji Initiative (Malaysia) mentioned that being verified gave Biji-biji a stamp of credibility, letting stakeholders know that they hold “very high standards for social impact”.
Juliana further mentioned that being People and Planet First verified also allowed Biji-biji as an enterprise “to collaborate with those from different countries because we have a common set of standards that everyone trusts and recognises. So it really positions us on equal footing with social enterprises from other parts of the world and this really opens up doors for international partnerships, funding opportunities and knowledge sharing”.
In a recent interview with Laura Thompson, CEO and Co-founder of Clothing The Gaps (an Aboriginal social enterprise and advocacy-focused streetwear brand based in Australia), Laura noted that anyone could claim to run a business that is socially responsible and sustainable. However, being verified keeps Clothing The Gaps accountable and helps them explain the impact of their work much better.
“We didn’t change our values or approach to work to get these certifications. However, displaying these badges prominently on our website and communications consolidates that we are doing what we say we are. It also takes the burden off customers to verify our claims and pushes us as a business to continually improve”, says Laura.
Verification and social procurement
Jaime Paiva
Jaime Paiva, Head of Procurement & Supply Chain Management EMEA at Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) and Co-Chair Supplier Diversity and Inclusion at the Sustainable Procurement Pledge, shared in an interview, how being verified helps in vetting enterprises during the social procurement process.
“At Zurich we don’t have our own verification process or definition for what constitutes a social enterprise”, says Jaime. But “we rely on local intermediaries in each country and their verification process. However, we have realised over time that these intermediaries don’t always have consistent requirements. Having consistent verification is important from a reputational perspective. If we start working with a company that claims to be a self-assessed social enterprise, but it turns out that this is not entirely true and they become embroiled in a scandal, it could impact our brand and the trust our customers have in us. Verification helps to mitigate that risk and expedites the process as we don’t need to conduct the entire vetting and verification process ourselves each time”.
Launch of the People and Planet First Supporter Directory
The Supporter Directory also launched during People and Planet First Week and is accessible to all verified enterprises. From free and discounted products and services to software integrations, preferential purchasing opportunities and funding options, the directory will expand over time based on community input. You can learn how to become a supporter and submit an offer to the Directory.
“Together, we’re building a future where diversity drives innovation and everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Being People and Planet First verified is a powerful step toward amplifying our impact, and we’re excited to collaborate with others who prioritize social equity and sustainability” – (Nora Fraser, The Multicultural Professional Network, Australia).
The first People and Planet First Week has demonstrated the growing momentum of enterprises committed to prioritising social and environmental impact. As we look to the future and by working together, we can create an economy that truly puts People and Planet First. A future where business is a force for good, driving prosperity while respecting the limits of our planet.
Visit the People and Planet First website to learn more about the verification process, find verified enterprises to purchase from or explore ways to support People and Planet First.