New Zealand period care brand AWWA has achieved B Corp certification, after an in-depth review that spanned more than a year and a half.
Achieving a B Corp certification means the company has met the highest standards of transparency, accountability, performance, and sustainability, intending to create value for society.
The assessment is an extensive 300-question analysis that evaluates organisations in five key areas: workers, governance, community, customers, and environment.
According to AWWA, it aims to eradicate period poverty while positively impacting the environment. It also seeks to provide people of all shapes, sizes, and identities with innovative period-proof underwear to effectively manage the menstrual cycle without the negative impact of single-use period products.
The company’s reusable underwear is made from natural, organic, and recycled fabrics and “looks and feels like normal underwear” but can absorb up to five regular tampons or pads worth of blood.
In addition, the fabric’s technology uses absorbent, anti-microbial, and leak-resistant layers that users can wash, rinse and re-use again and again.
“Our B Corp Certification is a testament to our hard work and dedication to looking after papatūānuku and the communities in which our business operates,” said Kylie Matthews, co-founder and COO of AWWA.
“We are committed to the ongoing journey of continuous improvement that comes with the responsibility of the B Corp badge and being accountable for the decisions we make that impact our environment and society.”
