In a world growing increasingly skeptical of organized change, a group of purpose-driven for-profits are leveraging their businesses for good.
Among these purpose-driven businesses is Arkansas-based outdoor apparel brand LIVSN Designs, which just recently completed its B Corp™ Certification. According to the certifying body B Lab™, “Certified B Corporations™, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.”
“We started this process by defining our mission,” says Abby Hollis, Director of Product and Sustainability. “We’ve known our values since the very beginning, but this process gave us the opportunity to think critically about what’s most important to us, how we articulate it, and how to design systems that keep this mission central to decision-making.”
LIVSN’s benefit statement, to which the business is now legally bound as a Public Benefit Corporation, reads “Create products and systems that maximize function and minimize harm to people and planet.”
“It’s about a ratio,” explains Hollis. “The more functional a garment is, the more deserving it becomes of the resources required to make, sell, and distribute it. We’re trying to make clothes that function in the outdoors, integrate into people’s everyday lives, last a long time, and are worthy of care. In parallel, we’re creating systems that support that care. However, it’s about more than the clothes. It’s about the people who make the clothes, the ecosystems outside the factory doors, the global surplus of discarded clothing, and the impact that has on regional textile systems and landscapes.”
In order to become a Certified B Corporation, a company must complete the B Impact Assessment, which considers factors related to governance, workers, community, environment, and customers, and score a minimum of 80 points. LIVSN scored an initial score of 111.3 and looks forward to continual improvement under the new B Corp standards being rolled out in the coming years.
In addition to adopting a legally binding benefit statement, the company has rolled out initiatives like a Supplier Code of Conduct and detailed Impact Report to increase accountability and transparency across its entire supply chain. Although many of its impact initiatives have focused on production, where a bulk of the company’s impact takes place, LIVSN has also made strides in its internal employee policies, introducing new benefits, training, and hiring practices.
“We started exploring certification in 2022 with the assistance of graduate students from the University of Arkansas,” said Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, CEO of LIVSN. “However, it took a dedicated internal focus led by Abby to get it over the finish line. We’ve been doing our best to operate as a socially responsible business since we began, so the validation brought by the B Corp certification means a lot to us.”
LIVSN’s push for greater transparency both internally and through third-party evaluation demonstrates its long-term commitment to responsible product development and business processes. This commitment has gained the company recognition for its genuine approach toward sustainability in media, such as the outdoor industry podcast The Rock Fight, where LIVSN was recently named the top New and Emerging Brand.
“We all want to do the right thing because it’s the right thing, but when we can find ways to align business acumen with social and environmental responsibility, that’s when we can expect to see lasting change.” Hollis says. “That’s what the B Corp movement is all about.”
To learn more about LIVSN Designs and explore its line of intentionally designed outdoor apparel, visit www.livsndesigns.com.
About LIVSN Designs
LIVSN is an outdoor brand focused on making versatile apparel designed to last longer. LIVSN combines technical features and durable construction with modern styling to create lasting clothing that facilitates a life of adventure. Replace throwaway items with well-designed pieces to remove clutter and create space for living. Keep what matters. https://www.livsndesigns.com.
About B Lab
B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our community includes more than 700,000 workers in over 7,800 B Corps across 92 countries and 161 industries, and more than 200,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.
