B Lab Taiwan organized the 2024 APAC Champions Retreat, bringing together B Corps and B Lab teams across Asia Pacific to connect and exchange innovative practices to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
2024 APAC Champions Retreat Overview:
Day 1: Team Bonding and APAC Regional Collaboration Workshop
Day 2: Taiwan B Corps Corporate Visit *blog story coming soon
Day 3: Better Business Forum
Day 4: Local Taiwan Tour
Better Business Forum Overview:
Keynote Speech: Be a Change Maker, by Dr. Christopher Marquis (author of “Better Business”) Dr. Marquis commenced the forum with his keynote address. He highlighted the significance of the B Impact Assessment, B Corp Certification, and Legal Mission Alignment, in guiding leaders through the process of change implementation. Also emphasized was the transition from transparency to accountability, underscored by the imperative of demonstrating double materiality to investors.
Presentation and Panel Discussion ft. Global B Corps: Deploy London (UK), KRAF (Japan), and Continew (Korea)
Dr Bernice Pan, founder of sustainable fashion brand and certified B Corp, Deploy London, shared during her presentation "Towards A New Valuism for 360° Sustainability", that the key contributors to business sustainability are ethical decision making, design thinking, resource efficiency, and placing people and the environment at the centre of businesses.
Ms. Eimi Murakami, Sustainability Manager at KRAF, Inc. a certified B Corp and cybersecurity company from Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, shared about the company's workforce development business model. Through their standardised and structured workflow and post-employment training system, they have created an environment where employees without IT industry experience can grow and flourish as security engineers. Their innovative approach has allowed workers in local cities to be employed as IT professionals.
Mr. Ian Choi, founder of Continew, a certified B Corp from South Korea, shared about the journey for continuous impact improvement. Continew upcycles automobile textiles into fashionable bags and accessories. They continue to improve their manufacturing process to increase circularity through renewable energy sources, water recycling and monitoring the footprint of input materials.
Seminar 1, featuring: Jia Wei & Co., CPAs (Taiwan) and Chia Pang Plastics (Taiwan) How can SMEs exert influence to attract talents amidst the challenges of the Great Resignation? Mr. Kenny Chang (Jia Wei & Co) and Mr. Ian Wang (Chia Pang Plastics) shared how HR strategies that put people first can improve business performance.
Seminar 2, featuring: UKL Enterprise (Taiwan) and Kwong Lung (Taiwan) Innovative ESG Initiatives in the Fashion and Textile Industry Mr. Herbert Chan (Kwong Lung Enterprise) and Mr. Gary Hsieh (UKL Enterprise Co.) discussed sustainability and human rights standards in the textile industry, and innovation in textile manufacturing.
Our Reflections on the APAC Regional Collaboration Workshop
The retreat provided a platform for our team to connect and collaborate with our wider APAC community.
Throughout the retreat, our team engaged in exchanges of insights and best practices with the APAC B Lab team, deepening our understanding of challenges and opportunities. This cross-exchange of ideas catalysed innovative ideas and approaches to drive positive impact not only in our local context in Singapore but also across the wider APAC region.
We welcome more B Corps from Singapore and the region to join us for the upcoming 2025 APAC Champions retreat and be part of the dialogue to continue the movement of building Business for a Force of Good.
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