Greenwash battler asks citizens to ‘Do Something’ and show businesses how to be ethical

Get businesses to follow your lead and sign up to SEE Companies (Photo: Fotolia)

So you want businesses to put their money with their mouths are. And you want them to start operating in a way that’s not good ethically, but environmentally and socially too.

Well, here’s a new way to lead by example. Pioneering business accreditation scheme SEE Companies has launched a brand new website that lets you nudge business to up their ethical credentials. Users can sign in and take a pledge to make a real difference to their life – ranging from ‘easy’ to ‘not so easy’.

It’s a sort of lead by example, says SEE Companies founder and NC columnist Michael Solomon. “We face a variety of social, environmental and ethical (SEE) problems that need resolving urgently. I believe that many people are prepared to act and make real changes in their lives in order to play their part.

“When businesses greenwash - or simply appear to spin eco-friendly or ethical credentials - they destroy trust. Individuals have a vital role to play in getting businesses to understand that. Businesses are not expected to be perfect, however they should be able to justify their policies and practices and show how they are addressing SEE issues."

SEE Companies is an in-depth process through which businesses of all sizes can check out their commitment to ethics, and work with SEE staff to improve. The standards were set up in conjunction with 16 organisations, including ActionAid, and current SEE certified companies including Graig Farm Organics, Pukka Herbs and the Ecology Building Society.

Sebastian Pole, founder of Pukka Herbs, said: "We believe there are hundreds of businesses out there, like us, that are gearing up for real change. But we are also aware that many businesses are still greenwashing, or are perceived to be because they have not thought properly about how they are communicating. SEE Companies gives us a direct and trusted route to our stakeholders, many of whom we know are keen to make their voices heard and help us on our sustainability journey. We think the mindset is finally changing across business, thank goodness!" Try the SEE Do Something pledge here