B CORP: Our sustainability basecoat
Pink Gellac is now a certified B Corp. We’re excited about this new chapter of our sustainability journey. To us, B Corp is more than a badge; it’s our toolkit to make a positive impact on people and the planet and a commitment to continuous improvement. And it’s just the start, we have now laid the foundation.That’s why we call it our sustainability basecoat.
B Corps are companies that, besides making profit, work on a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Becoming a B Corp means meeting high standards in everything from governance to how you care for your team, the community, the environment, and your customers.
In the beauty/nailpolish industry, this is no easy feat. The sector faces unique challenges with materials supply chains and product packaging, but at Pink Gellac, we’re determined to pave the way for others. We want to set an example for how beauty brands can contribute to a more sustainable future.
During the B Corp certification process, your company’s activities are thoroughly evaluated. You earn points by proving the positive impact your company makes. Out of a possible 200 points, you need at least 80 to qualify. Pink Gellac obtained the B Corp certification by scoring 86.9 points. We are committed to building on this foundation.
This is what we’ve been up to
Becoming a B Corp means rolling up your sleeves and making meaningful steps forward. The process helped us to clearly lay-out where we are today, how and what we can further develop in the future.This is what we set in motion right away:
We set up our sustainability strategy
Our B Corp journey provided us with a clear sustainability roadmap for the next four years, helping us commit to making a bigger impact across our community, products, packaging, supply chain, and our team.
Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:
- Sustainable Packaging Project: We have launched our sustainability packaging project. In 2024, we will ship over 600,000 packages ordered online (+30% vs 2023) so with every positive change we are making huge impact.
- We strive to have most of our packaging FSC®-certified by the end of 2024. We have resized most of our shipping boxes for a better fit already reducing 15% carton volume vs. 2023. All our packages are shipped to the consumer with recyclable paper or recyclable plastic filling material and we stopped inserting additional flyers besides our how to use manual.
- In 2025, we’ll launch a smaller, modular version of our large starter set without the plastic insert which is a -20% Co2 reduction vs. our current starter set.
- 90% of our accessory packaging is plastic-free by the end of 2024.
- Returns: Our return rate, which is low in comparison to other eCommerce companies, has improved from 0.8% in 2022 to just 0.6% in 2023 which we manage to maintain in 2024.
- Code of Conduct: We secured commitments from 90% of our production partners, who have signed our Code of Conduct, setting clear guidelines for sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical business practices. We’re working to bring the remaining 10% on board in 2025.
- Environmental Management System (EMS): By the end of 2024, we will have fully mapped our direct emissions and are working with our supply chain to reduce our broader environmental footprint.
- Empowering Employees to Lead Sustainability: we have empowered our passionate employees to take charge of key sustainability themes.
- Implementation Biweekly Stock Replenishment: As of 2024, we now restock our brand stores biweekly instead of once a week, optimizing efficiency and reducing waste.
- Sustainable Shipping Options: We’ve updated our online checkout together with Monta, enabling customers to choose more sustainable shipping options with partners like Budbee and it is possible to select the option of picking up your order in one of our Pink Gellac Colour Boutiques by the end of 2024.
We empower self-expression
Creating impact goes beyond what happens behind the scenes; we’re passionate about using the power of our brand to drive positive change too. We’re already proud supporters of Pink Ribbon, but we felt like we could do more. That’s why we embraced the Theory of Change model to identify where Pink Gellac can truly make a difference in the world. The Theory of Change is a strategic framework that outlines how specific actions lead to meaningful, long-term outcomes, helping us chart a clear path to our goals.
At Pink Gellac, celebrating self-expression has always been the essence of who we are. But we want to take it a step further and give it real power. Self-expression fosters a sense of belonging and boosts confidence, but it’s not always easy with societal norms and fear of judgement standing in the way. That’s where we’d like to come in. We refined our impact mission: enable and encourage individuals from minority groups to express themselves. Starting in 2025, our impact mission will guide our newly set up campaigns and events.
We supercharge our Team
Our employees are our most valuable asset. We recognize that the only way we can continue to grow at this speed is if we grow together. That’s why we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can shine.
- We conducted a yearly employee survey, and we’re proud to say we scored a 9 out of 10
- We set up a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) policy. We have been able to re-confirm we offer equal pay across several diversity dimensions and will monitor this quarterly. All employees have completed DE&I training, and we’ve made this part of our onboarding process for new hires.
- We launched Open Up, a platform that offers all our employees and their families free and unlimited access to psychologists, lifestyle experts, and wellbeing resources.
- We continue to invest in the growth of our team through training and development opportunities, ensuring everyone can thrive in their roles.
While we’re proud of our progress, becoming a B Corp has shown us there’s still much to improve. We love a challenge, and we’re committed to pushing even further:
To do
- Sustainable Procurement: We are working closely with suppliers to ensure they meet our environmental and social standards. For new suppliers, sustainability is non-negotiable.
- Supplier Review: We’re reviewing all our suppliers to ensure they align with our sustainability goals, both socially and environmentally.
- Certifications: We’re helping our suppliers achieve the same social and environmental certifications we hold ourselves to.
- Ingredients: We’re exploring biobased options for our gel polish and other assortment as part of our ongoing mission to make our products as sustainable as possible.
- Logistics and Packaging Optimizations: We are continuously improving logistics with Monta, our distribution partner to decrease CO2 emissions and are working toward carbon-neutral shipments with all our post partners. We are committed to continuously further optimize our product and shipping box packaging.
Our fans mean everything to us at Pink Gellac. That’s why we love hearing your thoughts! Got questions, ideas, or feedback on our journey to sustainability? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
