Responsible Business
What is a Sustainable Business?
A business is considered sustainable when operations are economically efficient and it produces a good/service that does not harm the environment nor other living beings. Ideally, a sustainable business elevates the well-being of society and the environment, while becoming more profitable and serving as an inspiration for other businesses and consumers. Zen for Business is a Public Benefit Corporation.
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
Offer flexible scheduling
Satisfy customer expectations
Volunteer and donate
Operate with a justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging lens
Social advocacy (e.g., Black Lives Matter, climate justice, women’s rights)
ENVIRONMENTALLY responsible
Minimize consumption and waste
Reduce energy use & purchase renewable energy
Monitor carbon footprint - walk, bike, carpool, bus - and purchase carbon off-sets
ECONOMICALLY responsible
Use a locally owned bank
Purchase from Certified B Corps and from underrepresented individuals, whenever possible
Pay a living wage
What is a B Corp?
A B Corp is a certification developed by the non-profit organization B Lab in order to measure your company's standards of social & environmental performance, accountability and transparency and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good™. Zen for Business is in the process of pursuing B Corp Certification. We encourage you to take your company's pulse by using the free, online assessment called The B Impact Assessment.
Zen's Impact Report
Part of being a B Corp is being conscious of and measuring environmental and social impacts, as well as being transparent about them. We manage what we measure, so each year we set a new target goal so we can continue to improve our impact. Stay tuned for our forthcoming impact report.
COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENT
The Zen team strives to make a minimal carbon footprint by commuting via bike/foot whenever possible.
Our home-office uses recycled goods and non-toxic cleaners, utilizes passive solar light & heat, heats with an energy-efficient wood-burning stove, and off-sets 100% of our electric through the City of Gunnison’s wind program.
RENEWABLE ENERGY:
2018 = 18% | 2019 = 30% | 2020 = 100% | 2021 = 100%
2022 = Off-set auto & air travel through Terrapass
2023 Goal = Maintain 100% renewables with the City of Gunnison & again off-set auto and air travel via Terrapass, or another provider.
COMMITMENT TO people / community
We donate 1% of Zen for Business’ revenues to a donor fund managed by the Community Foundation of Gunnison Valley. Those funds are earmarked for the Gunnison Food Pantry in Gunnison, CO - a mountain town with a high cost of living.
We are committed to providing 50 hours of pro bono / service hours, annually.
SERVICE HOURS, SCHOLARSHIPS, DISCOUNTS & DONATIONS
2020 = 50 Hours - $13,495 in scholarships 2021 = 52.75 Hours - $6,000 in scholarships 2022 = 63 Hours - $2,758 in discounts - $1,394.91 in donations
Targets: 50 Hours of Service & create a sliding scale for Zenith Leadership Experience - different pricing for for-profits, non-profits and government/education
COMMITMENT TO CLIENTS
Zen promises to treat each client with the utmost respect. We guarantee confidentiality, integrity & honesty. We offer discounted rates to non-profits, B Corps, and local government.