Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at IMPAKTER. Creating IMPAKTER ECO, our marketplace of eco-friendly products, the focus was no different. All the brands on our marketplace must show that they are sustainable and pass the test of our IMPAKTER Sustainability Index. Thus all products are rated either A (great) or B (good) on the Index and that refers to their sustainability. The companies that earn this A or B grade have been vetted by the team of experts running our our Index and have met the following five key criteria:
Intention
The first thing we looked at is whether having an impact is at the core of each company’s mission as it is for us. The companies listed on our marketplace are focused on change; they care about their environmental and social impact, not just their bottom line.
Coherence
Sustainability applies to a product’s entire lifecycle. We looked for certifications at every stage of the value chain – from suppliers, manufacturing, and distribution – to ensure they adhere to environmental laws and sustainability standards. Companies can always claim to be sustainable, but we made sure they could back it up with the right certifications. And not any certifications – we rely only on primary certificates, those that are independent from their “clients” (the companies they certify) and rely on outside expertise. But we don’t stop there. Our IMPAKTER Index team is dedicated to tracking the behavior of brands on a 24/24 basis, so that any news of consumer or employee complaints and whistle-blower reports are followed up and if credible, included in the IMPAKTER Index.
Innovation
Innovation and creativity are critical for making a more sustainable future a reality, so we looked for brands who approach things differently than other players in their industry, whether they are improving on existing products or introducing new, practical solutions to everyday problems.
Transparency
How is wider society considered in the company’s business practices and to what extent are these practices observable to outsiders like you and me? This aspect plays a large role in building the IMPAKTER Sustainability Index. High levels of corporate transparency is not only known to improve a company’s efficiency, it builds consumer trust and can lead to greater opportunities for growth and the potential to make a bigger impact.
Commercial Viability
Is the product well designed and executed? Is there sufficient demand for it? Is the company able to distribute its products efficiently so that they reach consumers intact and on time?
A company’s capacity to make an impact depends directly on its ability to keep consumers satisfied with quality products and effective brand communication and marketing.This is what makes for commercial viability. It’s a key aspect that is also taken into account in building the IMPAKTER Index: Brands chosen for the ECO marketplace have therefore a proven track record in this respect and our IMPAKTER Index team took the time to verify it in every instance.
Taken all together, those five criteria ensure that consumers on the ECO marketplace have the highest assurance that what they buy is in fact sustainable and has a positive social impact.
In the Featured Photo: Sustainability made easy with IMPAKTER ECO. Original Photo Credit: Bram Naus
