On 12 October, the "Business for Good" Sustainable Citywalk, jointly organized by the Center for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and B Corps China, was successfully held. The event brought students and teachers to the world's leading sustainable co-benefit enterprises. They visited B Corps (B Corporations) stores, a pioneer in sustainable fashion in China, to gain a deeper understanding of the footprints and charms of business for good and responsible business practices.
The event began with a welcome speech by Professor Jing Dai, Director of CRBI. The event aimed to explore the role of innovation in sustainability from a different perspective and how businesses can contribute to sustainable development.
During the welcome speech, Ms Yufei Jiang, Advocacy & Service Director of B Corps China, introduced the real meaning of B Corps, "'B' means beneficial, which refers to the use of the power of business to solve socio-environmental problems and to measure business success by the harmony of profit, people and the earth. The harmony between profit, people, and the world measures business success". Ms Jiang said that every B Corp business needs to meet extremely high standards in all aspects of ESG, including how a company treats its employees and suppliers, how it treats the external environment, how it protects the planet, how it provides positive products to its customers, and whether the company's existence makes the earth a better place. Every B Corp company is in the details, doing environmentally friendly and socially friendly things to promote a new business model where business is good.
LiLi Time is the first coffee shop in Chinese mainland to be certified as a B Corp co-benefit enterprise. They uphold the principle of "Love is a life lit up", providing employment opportunities for the deaf and autistic community, helping to integrate the handicapped, and lighting up their hearts.
LiLi Time's main manager, Ms Mi, first introduced their space and brand philosophy, "LiLi Time is a coffee shop full of love, they not only provide love to their staff in the shop but also pass it on to every customer who comes to the shop, sharing flower arrangements and blessing cards made by their Diversity and Inclusion team."
Each of the shop staff introduced themselves, and each of them had their specialty of skills: first prize in badminton piano, hand-drawn 1:1 reproduction of the national high-speed railway map. Shop assistant Xiaoshuang also taught everyone the sign language of "Love is the life that is lit up", and the atmosphere was warm.
"Love is a life that is lit up", when love is lit up, both the person who is lit up and the person who lights up the love can feel the warmth of the light.
HowBottle is China's local sustainable lifestyle brand, the first sustainable environmental fashion B Corp in Chinese mainland, they use plastic recycling, and fishing nets recycling as the basis for renewable materials to create a second life of resources, unique creations to give long life and uniqueness to sustainable products, to realize the "make yourself happy, the earth is also happy".
Ms Supa, the manager of Good Bottle, introduced the origin of the brand and the meaning of the product design of the main products, "We may not be able to change the use of plastic in the world, but if the things we use are recycled from recycled plastic bottles, then it can not only not damage the joy of consumption in our daily life, but also reduce the pollution of the environment in the product itself." Supa shares, "People don't buy the same thing because of the stick, they buy the item because of the need." Therefore, every product of HowBottle goes back to the consumers themselves, combining the attributes of good use, good looks, environmental protection, and spreading social attributes in one, pursuing the pursuit of happiness and sustainability, and pursuing the lifestyle of wanting to live happily with the environment from the bottom of one's heart.
"When we want to realize sustainability, we should not chant empty slogans, but lead people to aspire for a sustainable lifestyle from the bottom of their hearts."
Founded in 2002, ZUCZUG is committed to "Life and Imagination" in its brand image and is committed to a recyclable production and consumption model, creating sustainable brands such as An Ko Rau and klee klee, and creating unlimited possibilities in life for the good of business.
An Ko Rau, which means "constant movement" in Esperanto, led a tour of their newest office space, Lab0, which was designed to better connect outdoor enthusiasts, creators and the natural environment. To better connect outdoor enthusiasts and creators with the natural environment, Lab0 has designed a kitchenette, a constant movement area, a rooftop farm, and other areas that are open to pets of all sizes, connecting movement, nature, community, and innovation.
Exploring movement in the city, the impact of the sports brand is to let more ordinary people set off at any time, feel the outdoors, and enjoy sports, because "sport is play"!
"klee klee", in the colloquial Tibetan language of Lhasa, means "take it slowly", emphasizing a gradual exploration to minimize the impact on the Earth in every aspect of garment production. Starting with an organic cotton T-shirt in 2010, the design team at klee klee has consistently committed to using environmentally friendly materials with low environmental impact, exploring eco-friendly dyeing techniques that reduce pollution, and incorporating sustainable practices throughout the production process—from biodegradable packaging to recycled buttons. For example, their 'Let's blue' series utilizes an eco-friendly denim dyeing technique called "indigo juice" wash, which consumes less water and energy compared to traditional methods. They also endeavor to collaborate with groups in need of support, promoting the traditional weaving techniques of the Dulong ethnic group and partnering with Norlha, a socially responsible enterprise on the Tibetan Plateau... klee klee hopes to invest time in the future in the areas of eco-friendly raw materials, eco-friendly production, and social responsibility, tirelessly exploring a lifestyle of mutual respect and equality between nature and humanity.
"Take it slowly" is their most direct experience from years of exploring eco-friendly and sustainable living.
In the final check-out session, students actively shared their feelings about today's event. Lucy Cai shared: "In today's Sustainable Citywalk, we witnessed the cutting-edge actions of enterprises in sustainability and learned about the sustainable efforts of enterprises in the entire process of production, supply chain management and product presentation to consumers. At the same time, we also saw the unique insights of the younger generation on sustainable development. I hope that in the future, more companies will integrate this change in consumption patterns and lifestyles into sustainable business promotion!"
Another student shared: "The practice of LiLi Time has allowed us to see the mutual assistance and cooperation between special group store employees and coffee shops, which is a true embodiment of social responsibility."
Every student on this trip was inspired and thought about what they could think and do under the grand topic of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and play the role of "disseminator" and "co-builder", transforming the abstract concept of sustainability into concrete practical actions, and jointly telling the future story of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Finally, Professor Jing Dai summarized the event, "'Responsible business and innovation' has a dual meaning. 'Responsible business' includes being responsible to consumers, the community, and the production process, and 'sustainable innovation' covers technological innovation, concept innovation, model innovation, and various forms of innovation. Both are perfectly reflected in the enterprises and stores visited today."
Through this event, we witnessed the positive role of B Corp companies in promoting social and environmental sustainable development and felt the true business for good. From the love lighting of LiLi Time coffee to the environmental innovation of HowBottle, to the sport's integration of An Ko Rau, to the environmental protection and social responsibility of klee klee, every step they take is a commitment to society and a sustainable future.
In the future, more and more companies will embrace sustainable business practices. In addition to pursuing profits, they pursue positive impacts on society and the environment and work together for a better business, community, and environment.