B The Change
As we wrap up B Corp™ Month, we’re looking at how we can make a positive change in our local and global communities. With a bit of effort, we can all make a difference to protect the environment, creating greater equality, and uplifting those who might need a helping hand.
Over the past month, we’ve highlighted the four Ps that make us a proudly Certified B Corp™: Product, People, the Planet, and Philanthropy. By shifting the way we do business to create more sustainable and ethically-sourced apparel, taking care of the people who make what we do possible, and lending a helping hand to those who need it most, we’ve committed to doing business as a force for good.
To close out B Corp™ month, we’re sharing ways you can join our movement to join our efforts to B the Change.
Shopping Sustainability
Become an eco-conscious consumer to shop mindfully and protect the planet with the shopping decisions you make.
1. The Longevity Test
When purchasing new items, think to yourself: Am I going to wear this once, or will I wear it repeatedly? Instead of statement pieces, opt for styles with innate versatility that you can wear in different settings, maximizing the product’s lifespan.
2. Knowledge is Power
Try to learn more about what makes clothing sustainable or if brands who make that claim are merely ‘green-washing’ their approach. As an organization that emphatically believes in operating transparently, we’re sharing info on our operations, eco-friendly certifications, compliance audits, and general information to provide you, our consumer, with the confidence to shop our products consciously knowing the sustainability claims we make are verifiable. And if you ever have any questions about our sustainability efforts, please feel free to contact us at customerservice@mpgsport.com or 204 786 1700. We’d love to hear from you.
3. Take Care of Your Clothes
By following care instructions and using your clothing mindfully, you can extend the lifespan of the items you purchase by simply going the extra mile to ensure your clothes last as long as possible.
4. Quality Over Quantity
A vital part of extending clothing lifespan is opting for quality pieces over fast fashion, easily disposable items that are, from inception, designed to be discarded after only a few uses. By investing in and utilizing the latest in textile technology and fabrications, we’re sticking to our original mission of creating high-quality, meticulously manufactured clothing at unexpected price points, which is as accurate today as when we founded the company 35 years ago.
5. Alter Your Perspective
Shopping green doesn’t mean you’re stuck wearing drab pieces made of abrasive hemp! With textile technology continually evolving, you can find sustainably produced clothing that suits your style, looks great, and minimizes your environmental impact.
Making a Push for Greater Equality
Being a certified B Corp means looking after people. At every point in our supply chain, our workers receive fair and equitable treatment, safe and comfortable working conditions, and are protected from workplace harassment or intimidation, regardless of their race, sex, creed, religious affiliation, or political beliefs.
You can become an ally and advocate in your daily life through amplifying voices and learning more about people of colour and unique cultures that may be different from your own. And by engaging in philanthropic endeavours related specifically to those communities, you can gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities.
1. Amplify Voices
At work, seek out opportunities to applaud your POC colleagues’ output and make a case for elevating those who may find themselves overlooked, especially when it comes to promotion to senior positions on the leadership team.
2. Education
Learn. Seek out trustworthy sources of information to better understand the historical challenges faced by POC in your community. Only by confronting the injustices and discrimination of the past can we all work to tear down oppressive systems and, in their place, rebuild a more equitable society where all of us have equal opportunities to realize our full potential.
3. Make a Pledge
Finding local organizations to contribute not only money but also time by offering to volunteer can affect real change and make a difference.
Living Sustainably
Even small changes in your day-to-day life or routine can add up to a significant impact.
At Home
- Use Less Energy.
- Stick to the basics: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
- Use renewable energy.
- Donate unused items and avoid throwing away items that others might find useful.
- Drive less.
- Don’t waste food by making less at mealtimes and consuming all leftovers.
- Use eco-friendly cleaning products.
At Work
- Similar to point five above, try taking public transportation to work or if workable, walking or cycling to work.
- Use less paper.
- Become an advocate for changing things at your workplace from the bottom to the top by pushing for recycling, energy reduction, and recycling programs.
- Add greenery. Plants not only clean the air, but they are also an essential reminder of the ecosystems that need protecting in the face of devastating climate change.
- Use reusable utensils, glassware, and other kitchen items to reduce lunch waste.
Give Back
As an organization committed to giving back since its inception, we know the importance of philanthropic efforts and the difference we can make by lending a hand to those less fortunate than ourselves. Focusing on East Africa, where our founders are from, allowed us to engage in initiatives that had personal significance for our organization. We work with a primary school in Kampala, Uganda, and an orphanage in Kisumu, Kenya, to provide children access to education, nutrition, and healthcare. We have also focused on gender equality programs to give the girls at those locations added assistance.
By seeking out causes that are important to you or resonate on a deeper level, you can find fulfillment and a genuine sense of joy knowing you’re making a difference. Whether you’re engaging at a local, regional, national, or international level, those in need will appreciate your contributions, and you’ll feel immense satisfaction knowing you’re making a difference.