Sydney-based Ethical Swag, which distributes sustainable promotional products, has become the first company in Cape Breton to become a Certified B Corporation.

The company has joined the global B Corp community, which means it has passed rigorous examination to show that its business is sustainable and that it adheres to ethical business practices.  Companies that are B Corp certified are instantly recognized for meeting high ethical standards in terms of how they treat the environment, workers and community.

“For us, it has never been about selling pens with logos,” said CEO Tara Milburn in a statement.

“We are in the business of trust, providing alternatives for customers’ brands that recognize the power of business to address some of our biggest challenges. We make it easy to promote those brands and use their purchasing power to have an impact.”

With clients across North America, Ethical Swag sources goods from ethical manufacturers and sells them on to companies or organizations to represent their brand. The goods on its website range from apparel to handbags to notebooks. Producers offer environmentally sustainable procedures and are committed to the social good of their communities.

Since 2018, Ethical Swag's ecommerce website has provided easy-to-find promotional products for companies that want to ensure they’re not harming the environment or exploiting workers when they buy swag. It recently added a page for face masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to the pandemic. 

“We are delighted to welcome Ethical Swag into the B Corp community,” said Kasha Huk, the Canadian Country Manager for B Lab, the non-profit that certifies B Corps. “The promotional products industry will benefit by Ethical Swag’s diligence in vetting products and suppliers, which can be a difficult area to navigate for businesses on their own.”