2024-04-11 06:34:13
More than 8,000 B Corps around the world come together to celebrate the “B Corps Month 2024”, which takes place throughout March, highlighting its commitment to an inclusive, equitable and regenerative society.
This annual campaign brings together companies from 96 countries and 162 industries, employing more than 750,000 workers, to demonstrate how the B Corp community is committed to improving and evolving towards a positive impact.
Throughout March, certified B Corps from around the world share their inspiring stories, calling on other players to join this new way of doing business.
“Coming together to celebrate B Corp Month demonstrates the firm commitment of the Ecuadorian business sector to transform the way of doing business both locally and globally.
This initiative promotes purposeful consumption and highlights success stories that emphasize social and environmental impact, sowing messages of hope for a more just and sustainable future,” said José Ignacio Morejón, Executive Director and Co-founder of Sistema B Ecuador.
Globally, B Business Month promises innovative collaborations, special events and promotions, with the support of B Lab and Sistema B. A triple-impact visit was made in Ecuador: the B Tour. During this activity, co-organized by Sistema B Ecuador, República del Cacao, Hotel Carlota, Paccari and Hoja Verde, a tour was carried out through the Historic Center of Quito, with the objective of positioning the B Companies that are in that sector of the capital and that are a tourist engine and community.
The tour began with a trip on the Quito Metro to the center of the capital. The first stop was in República del Cacao, the largest exporter of fine chocolate in the country. Here, its CEOs Paulina Páez and Simón Pérez explained how this local brand has a global impact, being present in more than 20 countries worldwide.
Likewise, they offered a sensory experience focused on the origin of chocolate and its applications at a professional level with the help of the Corporate Chef, Andrea López and the renowned international Chef, Javier Guillén.
“The companies that have met today in this Tour (B) work to generate a positive impact, both economically, socially and environmentally. We focus first on generating positive actions while doing business and not the other way around. At República del Cacao we work under pillars of sustainability that help us be more responsible with our community and the planet.
In our chocolates we taste the land of Ecuadorian cocoa, and this responds to the fact that we rescue nature and the gifts of our country, and at the same time we protect these spaces where fine aroma cocoa grows,” said Pérez.
After a short 5-minute walk, the second stop on Tour B was at Paccari, a chocolate internationally recognized for its quality and excellence. Here the guests were able to participate in an exquisite chocolate tasting guided by Santiago Peralta and Carla Barbotó, the founders of the company.
“At Paccari, we are committed to being more than a chocolate company; We have always worked to be a company that, through cocoa, promotes sustainability and social justice. Through our close work with the community and taking care of every link in the production process, we have become a responsible company,” says Santiago Peralta.
Finally, the tour ended at Hotel Carlota, the only B hotel in the country. In this space, the managers and CEOs of each company addressed the importance of continuing to work as an interdependent community that supports and promotes the Ecuadorian business future, having people and the planet at the center of business.
“We came in 2004 to start a business, but with a completely different vision of doing business and we started with the topic of sustainable construction. Then the adventure began in the world of tourism, but with this vision that it is the right way to do business, in a sustainable way and with a positive impact,” emphasized Renato Solines, CEO of Hotel Carlota.
It should be noted that, throughout Tour B, guests were able to enjoy the incredible floral arrangements with excellent quality roses by Hoja Verde, a Certified B Company recognized for its conviction and purpose in social and environmental performance.
“Through floriculture we manage to generate stable employment for the workforce, of which only 30% of our country has stable employment with a permanent contract,” commented Eduardo Letort, CEO of Hoja Verde. Additionally, he expressed that, “it is a matter of pride, all the businessmen who make the country and leave a legacy in the area to which we dedicate ourselves.”
These activities, tours and approaches are framed under the global campaign of B Lab and Sistema B, “Walking towards the future”, which reflects the commitment of the business sector to transform the way of doing business. By promoting this new way of operating, companies not only achieve their commercial objectives, but also strengthen their vision of social and environmental responsibility.
This is an eloquent testimony of how business success is intertwined with building a more sustainable world. As we move into the future, we are forging a horizon towards a more prosperous society and a more balanced environment.