Karachi-based AGI Denim is the first company in Pakistan to earn B Corp certified status. AGI scored a 91.4 overall B Impact score. The vertical denim manufacturer began the certification process in 2019, preparing for and answering 200 questions about its operation.
Ahmed Javed, AGI Denim’s executive director, said the certification process required the company to make a few changes to lower its environmental and social impact. It also pushed the company to introduce policies that put people, communities, and plants at the heart of every decision it makes.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a company’s operations and covers the five key impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Applicants must reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity, and corporate transparency.
The certification is a big win for Pakistan’s business sector as well. “We feel extremely honored to be the first in Pakistan to lead the way to do good for the business, people, and environment,” Javed said. “We have set the standards high for others to think beyond combine, to think about the environment, good governance, and our society.
Yet at the same time it carries a lot of weight and responsibility to stay ahead of the curve.
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