Consumer technology and accessories brand Bitmore has achieved B Corporation (B-Corp) certification, following a rigorous preparation and assessment conducted over 20 months.
The B-Corp movement aims to shift the behaviour, structure and culture of capitalism to focus on the ecological needs of the planet. Worldwide, just over 6,000 companies across more than 80 countries and from more than 100,000 applicants, have achieved B-Corp status.
Bitmore’s sustainable tech range offers over 35 SKUs, including power banks, speakers, earphones and charging devices. As reported, the brand uses environmentally friendly materials such as recycled TPE, plastic and wheat straw materials in its products.
According to Bitmore, the B-Corp certification process led to the implementation of new environmentally friendly procedures and working practices. The brand took a “bird’s eye look at the business, and how it operates in the context of governance, community, environment, workforce and customers”.
Bitmore described its B-Corp status as “the pinnacle of a shift in emphasis by Bitmore at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to become a sustainable eco-friendly business and brand”.
Bitmore CEO Hoj Parmar recalled the moment the brand’s sustainability journey started. “The whole world was in simultaneous lockdown in early 2020, and while watching the news one evening, there was a segment on how the Himalayas (more than 500 miles away) could now be seen from a town in the Northwest state of Punjab in India. Previously, due to low clouds, smog and pollution, they had not been visible in living memory,” he said.
“This was a time when globally, in sync, industries were closed, and there was virtually no transport on our roads, skies or seas. This proved that in a very short space of time, things can change, and the planet can heal itself.
“It was at this point I realised as a business, we could also make a difference, and it would be the right thing to do. We started to fast track everything in terms of product development and move towards becoming a more sustainable and eco-friendly brand.”
Parmar said Bitmore decided to target B-Corp certification in 2021 because of the movement’s “all-encapsulating business framework when it comes to meeting standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability”.
“The reality is this is how 21st century businesses need to operate to ensure the safety and prosperity of future generations” – Bitmore CEO Hoj Parmar
“It helps us to keep these things at the forefront of our day-to-day business and will ensure that Bitmore will have an ever-evolving sustainable strategy, which will always link back to our product development with a view to pushing our sustainability agenda at all times.”
Bitmore must recertify its B-Corp status every 36 months. “B-Corp is continually reviewing and updating the terms of B-Corp membership, so for us it’s an ongoing process of review, and then updating our working practices to ensure we comply,” Parmar added. “We have created an internal role for this to make sure we do not fall behind in any way.”
Parmar is encouraging other travel retail businesses to follow the B-Corp path. “Businesses can all make a positive difference if we choose to and business should be used as a force for good,” he said.
“We are still a commercial business at the end of the day, and profit is also a key driver for us. But you can be a profitable business with an ethical viewpoint and a matching purpose behind your business.
“The reality is this is how 21st century businesses need to operate to ensure the safety and prosperity of future generations. I highly recommended the pursuit of B-Corp status, which will ensure any brand or business is doing its bit towards the sustainable world I think we would all like to see.” 
