KMD Brands has secured B Corporation Certification for all three of its brands - Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz.
Rip Curl and Oboz have joined Kathmandu, which was first certified B Corp in 2019.
KMD’s overall B Corp score is 95.1, more than ten points higher than Kathmandu’s original score of 82.2.
KMD Brands MD Michael Daly said the group is one of the first multinational companies in Australia and New Zealand to have all its brands individually certified.
“At KMD Brands, we continually push ourselves across our group of Brands to be better and being B Corp Certified is recognition of that and of our commitment to balancing people, planet and profit. This is a great achievement for our business and our people."
B Corps are for-profit organisations which are rated across fiive impact areas: governance, workers, customers, community and the environment. Companies must document their positive impact to apply using the B Impact Assessment tool, and undergo an independent verification process every three years to achieve and maintain certification.
Kathmandu was one of the first outdoor apparel brands in ANZ to be B Corp Certified in 2019, and has now recertified with a significant improvement on its impact.
Daly said Rip Curl and Oboz had worked hard to improve existing practices and policies over a number of years.
“We are a large organisation and have a responsibility to consider the impact of our decisions on all of our customers, our employees, our shareholders, the wider community, and the environment,” Daly said.
“Being B Corp Certified across our entire business demonstrates that we take this responsibility very seriously, and that we need to continue working hard to retain our certification.”
B Corp ANZ acting CEO Mindy Leow said certification is a major step forward for retailers.
“The entire KMD Brands business is now part of an accelerating global cultural shift to redefine success, build a more inclusive and sustainable economy and use business as a force for good.
“This certification is a great example of how B Corps like Kathmandu can lead others – Rip Curl and Oboz - to improve their impact for people and the planet.
“We need businesses of all sizes to step up and be accountable and we applaud KMD Brands for doing so.
“Their focus on continuous improvement sets a leading example for other large, global businesses and sends a powerful signal that will further advance change in the retail sector, and our broader global economic system.”