Finisterre Becomes First European Surf Brand To Receive Significant B-Corp Accolade

Finisterre have just become the first European surf brand to become B-Corp certified, a recognition of their tireless dedication to business practices which prioritise environmental and societal responsibility.

B Corporations are for-profit companies who voluntarily meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and sustainability. The concept is similar to that of Fairtrade, where companies elect to adhere to standards laid out by a third party organisation, in order to ensure they are a force for positive change in the world.

Here’ what Finisterre said about their recently gained accreditation and what it means for the future of the brand:

“We know that it can be difficult to determine which companies are more than just fancy marketing. By seeking out brands who are certified B Corps, you can be sure that you are buying from brands who are doing more.

As a consumer, where you choose to spend your money sends a message. We are proud that our customers make positive choices about where and what to purchase. We love that you ask us the difficult questions and hold us to account, pushing us for more, not just in product and innovation but to do better in all we do, every day.

We are making a commitment to our customers that when you choose to buy from Finisterre, you can be confident in our values. As a brand, we have a long-term view; we are not interested in short term profits at the expense of our planet, or people; this has always been part of our DNA, but a cause to which we are even more committed through our B Corps accreditation.

We will never have to choose between doing good, or doing well. Finisterre’s founding purpose was to seek alternatives to what went before; we always have been, and always will be, committed to our people, from those that make our product through to those in our workshop and beyond, to making innovative and sustainable product which lasts and to making informed decisions about our impact on the environment.

You can be confident that we are part of a wider movement seeking to make a positive impact on the world; that you are buying product that has been considered; from the fabric it is made from, to the relationships with our suppliers; at every point along the supply chain we are continuously evaluating and improving.

B Corp accreditation does more than celebrate our journey so far. It binds us to continuous evaluation and improvement in every area of our business; from product design, to the working conditions along every point of our supply chain, to packaging and our operations here at the workshop. Every two years, we must seek re-certification and continue to meet the B Corp evaluation criteria, as well as produce an annual B Corps statement outlining what it is we are up to that we will be fundamental to our community.

Our policies and strategies relating to product, to sourcing, to factories and our responsibilities to our people have not changed to become a certified company; these were things we were doing anyway, and values we already held. Every year, we re-assess our goals and refine our objectives; we visit our suppliers and we ensure that we are continuing to make the best possible product with the best possible people, causing the least harm to the environment.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and with our commitment to the future, excited for what lies ahead; this is only the beginning. Thanks for being part of the journey.”