British outdoor equipment retailer Berghaus has become B Corp certified, joining the B Corporation movement that aims to use business as a force for good.
The retailer, which is part of the Pentland Brands group and therefore a sister company to businesses such as Speedo, Ellesse, Endura, Canterbury and Mitre, has pledged to continue improving its approach to responsible business practices.
Becoming B Corp certified includes a rigorous assessment covering how a business approaches governance, workers, community, customers, and the environment. The B Corp ratings are therefore show Berghaus is tracking in the right direction, but it will have to continue doing so to keep its newfound status.
A key factor in Berghaus’s favourable environmental ranking is its free repairs service, Repairhaus, which is offered nationwide and allows its customers to keep products in use for as long as they can be.
Further proof of its commitment to nature comes in its backing of organisations such as The Outward Bound Trust, It’s Great Out There Coalition, Millimetres 2 Mountains, and Black Girls Hike. Berghaus also partners conservation groups such as The John Muir Trust and the European Outdoor Conservation Association.
Berghaus becoming B Corp certified aligns with Pentland Brands’ 100-1-0 strategy to take positive action for people and the planet, and over time more of the group’s brands are expected to follow in Berghaus’ footsteps and seek the same accreditation. The retailer said it aims to use its new status to contribute to and promote wider outdoor industry initiatives that address social and environmental challenges.
Charlie Pym, Berghaus brand director, remarked: “We’re proud to be B Corp certified.
“Quite rightly, there’s a high bar for achieving it, and we’ve worked extremely hard to show that we’re worthy of the status. This process also highlights areas we need to improve, which is critical for our continued progress. Our mission is to open up the outdoors because that’s where the best of life is lived.”
He described B Corp certification as “another significant step forward in striving to make the world a better place with Berghaus in it”.
[Image credit: Berghaus/Pentland Brands]
