From the B-eginning: The road to responsible tech
The journey from where we are to where we want to be
Our big goal for this year is to be a more responsible tech company, and becoming a certified B Corporation is our first step toward achieving that goal.
With B Corp status we’ll join a global movement of organizations balancing people, planet and profit to use business as a force for good. And as we prepare for our official assessment we’re learning a lot – about our current social and environmental impact, but also about how we can be better.
The B Corp assessment covers five different areas, each of which we want to excel in. This means adjusting the way we work now and making some significant trade-offs, but it’s also helping shape our product roadmap, giving us a solid direction for the future of WeTransfer.
So let’s take a closer look at these five big focuses, plus the steps we’re taking to get on track.
Governance: We’ve already updated various frameworks requiring our board of directors to consult a wider range of stakeholders – including customers and employees – when making a big decision. This encourages more diverse points of view, but also ensures transparency and accountability go all the way to the top.
Customers: We believe technology should encourage creativity, not distract from it. So when it comes to improving our products, we’ve always put the people who use our tools first. Diving further into customer satisfaction with the B Corp assessment, we’re able to better understand and respond to customer needs, making sure we add value where it’s needed most.
Community: From day one WeTransfer has supported the creative community, giving away up to 30% of our advertising space to artists we admire and causes we care about. With B Corp status we can extend this support further, using the power of business to take on some of society’s biggest challenges. We’ll also offer benefits and schemes for other B Corp companies, starting with a set price list for advertising.
Workers: Our employees are one of our most valuable assets and over the years we’ve listened to their needs, doing everything we can to make coming to work something to look forward to. With the B Corp assessment we’re revisiting our existing health and wellness benefits, ensuring they’re valuable for the team but also for the planet.
Environment: During the last six months we’ve partnered with Sustainalize and Carbon Neutral Group to understand more about our environmental impact. Delving into the details of our products and supply chains, we’re looking for ways to reduce our CO2 emissions, as well as things like electricity usage and food and water waste.
There’s no such thing as a perfect business and when it comes to these areas we have lots to do and even more to learn. The important thing is we’re taking a step in the right direction. Establishing our baseline and working through the B Corp assessment brings us closer to our goal of being a more sustainable and responsible business.
I’m so proud of the transition WeTransfer is going through and can’t wait to see where this journey takes us. But, more importantly, I know we can’t accomplish this on our own. Creating a better future is a team effort and I hope we can inspire you to make some changes too.
Illustration by Mark Conlan
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