Oboz Footwear, headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., has joined the B Corp community of companies using business as a Force for Good.
“Achieving B Corp certification is an incredible milestone and the culmination of our team’s hard work and ongoing collaborations across our entire network of suppliers and partners,” said Amy Beck, Oboz Footwear President. “B Corp certification is another step in a long journey to becoming the best corporate and global citizen we can be.”
B Corps are for-profit organizations whose performance is measured across five impact areas: governance, workers, customers, community and the environment. Companies must document their positive impact to apply using the B Impact Assessment tool, and undergo an independent verification process every three years to achieve and maintain certification.
While Oboz entered its journey towards B Corp certification in 2021, it has been acting as a Force for Good since its founding in 2007. From the beginning, Oboz has planted a tree for every pair of shoes sold and to date has planted more than 5 million trees. The brand continues to be mindful of the environment through its materials and operations decisions but has also made progress in its social and community-related initiatives.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Black Folks Camp Too, The Conservation Alliance, and the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Oboz has been able to exact change on the greater good in its local, outdoor and greater communities.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we know there is a lot of room for additional collaboration and impact,” added Beck. “Being a part of the B Corp community – and its rigorous certification process – keeps us focused and accountable while connecting us with a broad network of businesses that inspire us and others to continue to push each other for the greater good.”
Oboz has identified climate, circularity, and community as initial areas for improvement. In terms of climate and circularity, Oboz focuses its attention on material choices and science-aligned targets and emission reductions within its operations and value chain. As for community, Oboz works to expand its health care benefits offering and working to increase employee diversity among other community-related goals.
Oboz’s certification comes with the B Corp certification of its parent company, KMD Brands, and each of its sister brands, Rip Curl and Kathmandu, which received their certification and recertification respectively.
To learn more about Oboz’s environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives, visit www.obozfootwear.com.
