BLYDE WAKE-UP CALLS

The past years have laid bare many truths about our current model of capitalism — the severe income inequality and the belief that human lives and environmental impact are expendable for better profit margins. The changemakers in the growing Certified B Corporation community are demanding an end to the myth that profits must come at the expense of purpose, and environmental and social care. It’s time to wake up, it’s time for action. 

As a member of the B-Corp community Blyde believes in the power of the collective, in taking a stand and inspiring people by showing what can and must be changed. In our weekly Wake-Up Calls, we stir up hunger for positive change. We listen to several B Corp voices who talk about their call to action for companies around the globe today. By letting people from different perspectives and businesses speak, we would like to underline the important role of business in this decade of action. ‘On stage’ today: changemaker Ramon Knaap, Impact Developer at Paper on the Rocks.

Paper on the Rocks is on a mission to make impact with sustainable solution for all of their paper needs. What was your wake-up call for contributing to a better world? 
Paper on the Rocks is founded with a clear purpose right from the start, my involvement came sometime after. In previous jobs I had experience and realised great commercial opportunities for my employer. However, I was not pleased with the actual company goals of making profit and enriching solely the shareholders. Instead, I believe each stakeholder should benefit from the organisation’s success and felt to start using my (commercial) qualities for the purpose of doing the right thing and using business as a force for good. It was an easy choice to commit myself to such a rudimental issue of deforestation and actually work on the solutions. Clearly my personal situation and realisation of my changing world views, by gaining life experience and having kids has been a total “wake-up call” package that made me realise to start looking for a job with impact. Although it was a leap of faith and stepping out of my comfort zone, it was less stressful than to keep doing the same thing over and over without any true mission.

What is your call to action for companies around the globe?
This is actually quite easy: the only thing to do is to shift your horizon. Would you still be doing the same thing if you extend your horizon? By shifting each and every horizon and look at the greater good, called earth and its resources, it becomes clear which direction you should go in the short term. It is like sticking your head out of the woods in order to see the path continuing afterwards and showing you the road to take. Obviously there is a clear difference in each company’s approach. Either you have a true vision on Planet, People and Profit or doing it for commercial opportunities, both I can accept as long as you are not cutting corners.

Which SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) calls you most and why?
SDG 15, life on land: protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Each of the SDGs are clearly important and intertwined in their goals.