Stir to Action is a national (UK) co-operative infrastructure body that focuses on strategic economic development projects, bridging the gap between policy and practice, and ensuring the future new economy is more diverse and representative. They prioritise the role of democratic ownership in creating the conditions to transform economic inequality, the climate emergency, and our political culture.
They publish a great magazine, and the new edition is just out.
I have written an article entitled:
B Corp: The Certification that won’t save the planet
There are great Illustrations by Connie Noble.
The UK government has made post-Brexit regulatory reform a priority and has stated that the UK’s exit from the EU creates a “unique opportunity” to support “the best interests” of UK businesses and citizens. The zeal to deregulate and a backlash towards “woke capitalism” means the current government has increasingly delegated responsibility for standards and rankings in areas such as environmental protections and corporate accountability to private and commercial certifications, as well as public pledges. Rather than be seen to impose constraints on businesses, such as assessments for gender and/ or racial equity, or stand accused of adding ‘red tape’, the government is supportive of outsourcing the load of managing and verifying various standards. Whilst participation in such schemes is voluntary, businesses are pressured to change and show their commitment to issues important to stakeholders. Wanting to show that they are acting in a way that is deserving of trust, businesses have rushed to support certificates such as the Carbon Trust Standard Zero Waste to Landfill Certificate, the Living Hours accreditation and the Cradle to Cradle Certification, as well as pledges such as United Nations’ ‘Race to Zero’ campaign. However, long standing questions that have plagued certifications have re-emerged, such as high fees, and the fragmented nature of process-driven standards.
Check out the website for the full article, and if you are so inclined (I recommend), subscribe to the print magazine. Its a great read, looks great and serves a great purpose.