Story’s Spotlight on B1G1

When it comes to planning events and running a business, sustainability is key. We wanted to shine the spotlight on B1G1 – the game-changing organisation making a huge impact. We recently interviewed them, and the work they’re doing is truly inspiring. Read all about it below:

Could you please let us know more about B1G1, and the impact you have had since inception:

  • B1G1 was founded in 2007 with the intention of enabling businesses to create positive impacts for a better future.
  • We provide a platform for businesses to integrate giving into their daily activities by connecting everyday actions to social impact projects all over the globe.
  • One thing that runs through everything we do is the “Power of Small,” we believe that all businesses, regardless of their size, can contribute positively to the well-being of others and the planet.
  • Since we began, we’ve worked with over 5000+ businesses who have collectively created more than 336 million impacts in the world.

What does this mean for the world?

  • 5,355,851 meals were provided to children and families
  • 4,359,504 days of access to medical support were provided
  • 2,152,018 days of safe shelter for disadvantaged families
  • 570,137 trees planted around the world
  • 79,616 clean energy devices have been provided
  • and so much more!

For us, an impact, is the quantified unit that we can break down a project into. We take the total cost of a project and divide it by the number of people it can serve, as well as the total years it can last.

What are B1G1’s top five recommendations on making an event the most sustainable?

  • Become a Guardian of the Environment
  • Use environmentally friendly materials or try to actively use more secondary materials for gifting, stationary etc.
  • Commit to sustainable practices throughout your supply chain (such as recycling or embracing energy-saving methods).
  • Know who you work with
  • Source your suppliers carefully – make sure they have ethical business practices. Fair-trade allows everybody to do better on business as well as on private levels.
  • Give to causes that are transparent about their spending – make sure the organisation you work with is transparent and sincere about their intentions.

With B1G1 for instance, every small action can be connected with a project, and you know exactly where your money goes. Whichever organisation you work with, transparency remains an important consideration.

Key considerations for your organisation:

  • Be a Supporter and Advocate for Causes you Care About 
    • Whether they are education, health, human rights, or environment focused, give to causes you truly care about and share this with event attendees to inspire them to give in their own capacity. This not only makes giving feel natural, but also helps you maintain the support to these causes consistently, both in good and bad times.
  • Stand up for issues you’re passionate about.
    • You’re likely to retain customers who care about the same causes and want to work with or purchase from businesses who are doing good in the world.
  • Engage & Educate
    • Raise awareness about sustainability among attendees through signage, presentations, or workshops.
    • Encourage responsible behaviour, such as reducing water usage and being mindful of waste.
    • Give your audience the opportunity to do something great together with you that results in a positive impact on the environment.
  • Reflect & Evaluate after the Event
    • Think about what you did well and what you could have done better. How can you build on this, to ensure that your events continue to become more sustainable and inspire others to engage in sustainable practices too.

 

Get in touch with us today to start planning your next event in the most sustainable way.

Banita and Bobi washing their plates after having their mid-day meal at school in Lunduriguda village. The running clean water is provided by Gram Vikas. Gram Vikas’ founders came to Orissa in the early 1970s as student volunteers to serve victims of a devastating cyclone. Their extensive activism and relief work motivated them to form Gram Vikas, which was registered on January 22, 1979, and currently serves more than 3,89,333 people in 1196 habitations of 25 districts in Odisha. Through its direct outreach programmes Gram Vikas works in 943 villages across 23 districts covering 59,132 families of which 39% are adivasis, 14% are dalits and the remainder are from general castes, mostly poor and marginal farmers.