ecoBirdy
Antwerp, Belgium
August 2019
Furniture
Manufacturing
Belgium
Based in Antwerp, ecoBirdy has created a whole system from the collection and recycling of old plastic toys to the design and production of the furniture. After two years of intense research, ecoBirdy has brought valuable innovation for plastic recycling, presenting its four-piece collection of design furniture entirely made of recycled plastic and easily and completely recyclable again. An accompanying storybook and school-program introduces youngsters to the concept of circular design and inspires them to contribute to a more sustainable future. ecoBirdy also creates tailored solutions for companies with the goal to solve their plastic problems, making new products. Within one year, ecoBirdy was awarded by several international design prices and included in many exhibitions worldwide. The distinctive speckled look of the debut-collection - showing pieces of recycled plastic toys - was a conscious choice of the designers to make waste material look like something beautiful, “We wanted to change the perception people had of products made with recycled material". For the founders Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel it was essential to base each and every step of their business on social and environmental responsibility, with fair business practices as an integral part of the ethos.
Overall B Impact Score
Governance 14.8
Governance evaluates a company's overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. This section also evaluates the ability of a company to protect their mission and formally consider stakeholders in decision making through their corporate structure (e.g. benefit corporation) or corporate governing documents.
What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.
Governance 14.8
Governance evaluates a company's overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. This section also evaluates the ability of a company to protect their mission and formally consider stakeholders in decision making through their corporate structure (e.g. benefit corporation) or corporate governing documents.
What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.
Workers 18.7
Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement & satisfaction. In addition, this section recognizes business models designed to benefit workers, such as companies that are at least 40% owned by non-executive employees and those that have workforce development programs to support individuals with barriers to employment.
Community 17.6
Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics include diversity, equity & inclusion, economic impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and supply chain management. In addition, this section recognizes business models that are designed to address specific community-oriented problems, such as poverty alleviation through fair trade sourcing or distribution via microenterprises, producer cooperative models, locally focused economic development, and formal charitable giving commitments.
Environment 73.2
Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable its supply chain and distribution channels. This section also recognizes companies with environmentally innovative production processes and those that sell products or services that have a positive environmental impact. Some examples might include products and services that create renewable energy, reduce consumption or waste, conserve land or wildlife, provide less toxic alternatives to the market, or educate people about environmental problems.
What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.
Customers 2.9
Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. In addition, this section recognizes products or services that are designed to address a particular social problem for or through its customers, such as health or educational products, arts & media products, serving underserved customers/clients, and services that improve the social impact of other businesses or organizations.