Full Line Specialties (asi/199688) in Surrey, BC, is now an official B Corporation (B Corp).

The Canadian distributor, a year-long contributor to ASI Media’s Project 2021 series, spent a year and a half pursuing the certification, which confirms companies’ commitment to social and environmental responsibility, accountability and transparency, through a lengthy auditing process of operation areas such as employee benefits, supply chain practices, input materials and charitable giving.

Sam Singh, Full Line Specialties

B Lab is a nonprofit organization that spearheads the B Corp certification process, in an effort to “shift the behavior, culture and structural underpinnings of capitalism” by “helping [companies] balance profit with purpose,” according to the organization.

“There was a considerable amount of initial research and time involved in understanding the requirements for certification,” says President and CEO Sam Singh. “You almost have to have a staff member dedicated full-time to this initiative. It began to take on a life of its own, and our views from the start were quite different than our views at the end of this growth journey, in terms of the business environment and impact.”

Singh hopes that more companies in the promo industry will recognize the value of including B Corp firms in supply chain diversity initiatives. “I know the promo industry can band together and help with change in the global business environment,” says Singh. “We need to adopt ideology that’s centered on conducting business in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

Full Line adds its B Corp certification to a sustainability and diversity roster that also includes certification as a Minority-Owned Company through the Canadian Aboriginal & Minority Supply Council (CAMSC), which helps Full Line source from indigenous- and minority-owned supply chains. Full Line is also a member of the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada).

“We look forward to the upcoming journey ahead,” says Singh, “and we’ll be partnering with fellow B Corp organizations to transform the global economy to benefit all peoples, communities and planet earth.”

The move marks a growing trend toward sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the promotional products industry. In January 2020, Canadian distributor McCabe Promotional Advertising Inc. (asi/264901) in London, ON, received the B Corp certification. Harper+Scott (asi/220052) announced the same three months later.