AWWA have achieved their B Corp certification. Image supplied.
Local Period care brand AWWA is celebrating the achievement of their B Corp certification which has been a year and a half in the making. The intensive certification is a big deal for companies and is achieved by those who meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability, sustainability, and performance, with an aim to create value for society. As this month is Plastic Free July, AWWA are also celebrating a significant milestone having just recently hit 23 million single use period products saved from landfill since the brand launched in 2018, which is an impressive achievement.
“We are so thrilled to announce our B Corp Certification. It is testament to our hard work and dedication to looking after papatūānuku and the communities in which our business operates. We are committed to the ongoing journey of continuous improvement that comes with the responsibility of the B Corp badge, and being accountable for the decisions we make that impact our environment and society,” says Kylie Matthews, AWWA COO and co-founder.
To achieve B Corp certification businesses complete The B Impact Assessment which is an extensive 300 question analysis that evaluates organisations on five key areas; governance, workers, community, environment and customers. This is to ensure that they meet the strict criteria set by the international B Lab network. Currently, there are over 4000 Certified B Corporations in 70+ countries and over 150 industries, with just over 60 companies based in Aotearoa that have achieved B Corp certification since it was launched in 2012.
For AWWA, this certification is a reflection of the brand’s values and how the relationship and connections between oneself, the environment, and our planet have shaped the business. AWWA aims to provide people of all shapes, sizes, and identities with innovative period-proof underwear to effectively manage their menstrual cycle, without the negative impact associated with single use period products. Each month, AWWA customers are preventing almost 1 million single use period products from ending up in landfill. This number continues to grow as people choose more sustainable period products like AWWA’s period underwear offering.
AWWA is rooted by indigenous Māori traditions that celebrate ikura (Māori translation for period). AWWA’s purpose and why the brand exists is to do their part in eradicating period poverty. To have a net positive impact on our environment and to change the narrative to ensure positive emotions about periods.
“Our Tupuna were innovators and knew how to utilise business in a profitable way that would help them and their whanau. We set out to grow AWWA into a thriving, value based enterprise that deeply cares for the environment and benefits society,” says Michele Wilson, AWWA CEO and co-founder.
Images supplied.