Today we are in desperate need for large systemic change that will ensure a sustainable future. Although we are far from where we need to be, I truly believe that more and more companies are taking serious steps towards participating in a new way of working in the world. This is great news, right! Apparently not. It seems that we are all being brainwashed with another round of…. greenwashing.
The recent B Corp certification of Nespresso has received some resistance from our “business as a force for good” community. People within our community are criticizing this move and are even suggesting that it discredits all certified Bcorps. They tell us that Nespresso exploits child labor and pollute with their capsules that nobody recycles. What’s worse, they are owned by Nestle! Mon dieu!! This is very disappointing.
While child labor and pollution are quite disappointing, (I must admit that I havent paid enough attention to know if these accusations are credible because it seems that they are being used as a shiny distraction) this is not why I am disappointed. I am disappointed because these green economy advocates who have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place are now saying that we aren’t all welcome to the party. They are saying that “Business as a force for good” cannot possibly apply to these big multinational companies. Whatever good they do is so easily erased by the mistakes of their past. If this is how things are going to work, I really don’t see how we are going to move forward.
From my perspective as a small certified Bcorp craft brewery, I take offense to those who are criticizing Nespresso, AND the Bcorp movement. To quote Greta Thunberg; “HOW DARE YOU!” We are all working so hard to do better and better. That doesn’t mean we think we are perfect. We have so much to do. Nespresso, at least in all that I have read, has never said that they were perfect, or better than anyone else for that matter. They simply threw their hat into the ring and said, we are all in on making the world a better place.
And a last note for those sceptics; what is the harm having a little faith in the Bcorp community? Maybe even saying “Good work Nespresso, we’ll be watching you.” Because I can assure you that your criticisms of this movement will only justify the inaction of those who are not yet on board. To quote Kermet the frog, “You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. And in my opinion, you can never have enough flies!”