As a sustainable architects practice, we have been asked a number of times why we are not B Corp certified. It is a fair question, particularly for a practice whose work is so strongly rooted in environmental responsibility and social value.
The simple answer is that we wholeheartedly support the aims of B Corp certification. The focus on accountability, transparency and continual improvement aligns closely with our own values and the way we believe businesses should operate. We applaud the many organisations that have invested the time and resources required to achieve certification and drive positive change within their businesses.
However, as a small practice, we have made a conscious decision to focus our time, energy and budget elsewhere.
Rather than dedicating significant resources to achieving and maintaining external certification, we choose to invest directly in delivering high-quality projects that have a positive impact on our local communities and the wider natural environment. We believe our greatest contribution comes through the buildings we design, the clients we support and the long-term environmental outcomes we help to create.
This is not to say that we operate without structure or accountability. Over the years, we have developed our own internal policies and guiding principles that help ensure every business decision aligns with our social and environmental values. These considerations extend far beyond our projects themselves, influencing everything from who we choose to bank with and where we source our coffee, to the suppliers, consultants and organisations we work alongside.
We are equally committed to creating a healthy and supportive workplace. We recognise that a sustainable business must also be sustainable for the people within it. Shorter working hours, enhanced annual leave and regular lunchtime fitness sessions are all part of our commitment to helping our team achieve a healthy balance between work, rest and play.
For us, sustainability is not a certification to attain; it is a way of operating every day. It is reflected in the choices we make, the culture we have built and the projects we deliver. We have great respect for the B Corp movement and for the businesses that have chosen to undertake the certification journey. We simply believe that, at Arbor, our resources are best directed towards creating tangible, measurable impact through our work and our actions.
Ultimately, we want to be judged not by the accreditations we hold, but by the difference we make. That is where we choose to focus our efforts every day.