March is B Corp Month, a global celebration of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. At Alberts, we’re proud to be part of this movement, driven by our business purpose to create a vibrant and sustainable future for all. But being a B Corp isn’t just about certification—it’s about continuously improving, challenging ourselves, and leading by example.
We first became a certified B Corp in 2021, and since then we continue to implement new initiatives to further embed positive impact into every aspect of our business.
As a then-137-year-old Australian family business, we faced unique challenges. Being primarily an office-based business, our environmental footprint hadn’t been a major focus initially. In 2023, we set ambitious targets, including carbon neutrality by 2024. Our strategy includes understanding our carbon footprint, switching to Greenpower, upgrading outdated building services, and incorporating environmental considerations into our investment decisions—efforts that led to achieving Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification, with a goal to reduce our FY2023 baseline emissions by 42% by 2030.
In 2024, we completed our B Corp recertification, and have been strengthening our commitment to our strategic goals around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Leadership and Advocacy across our organisation and activities. This includes:
- Alberts Impact Ventures (AIV) added its 22nd and final portfolio company, CommandPost, while making follow-on investments in pioneering early-stage ventures aligned with our four impact framework themes of equality, healthy minds, sustainable environment, and vibrant culture.
- We debuted at SXSW Sydney, hosting two impactful panels on innovative climate solutions and mobilising capital for positive impact with some of our environmentally focused founders from Uluu, Bygen and Harvest B.
SXSW Sydney: Alberts’ Ingrid Albert and Glenn Bartlett with some of our Alberts Impact Ventures founders: Dr Alexander Thompson (MGA Thermal), Lewis Dunnigan (Bygen) and Kristi Riordan (Harvest B).
- We co-launched the Equity Clear initiative to close the gender gap in venture capital, joining 65 VC firms in committing to disclose the gender make-up of our investments.
- Through The Tony Foundation, we extended special grants Regen Studios and Groundswell Giving, both working to address the critical threat of climate change, in alignment with our responsible investment framework across the foundation. In November, we hosted an intimate preview screening for impact investors, philanthropists, and Alberts staff and Albert family members of Regen’s upcoming feature documentary, ‘Future Council’, celebrating youth-led climate action.
Future Council director Damon Gameau with one of the film’s stars, Ruby Rodgers, and The Tony Foundation’s Ingrid Albert (far left).
- We undertook an impact analysis of our investment portfolio with a particular deep dive into climate and DEI impacts, policies and practices.
- Through our Music Education: Right from the Start collaborative initiative we presented a collective vision for change in music education on behalf of our stakeholders to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Arts and Music Education. We strongly support its recommendations, including the development of a Music Education Plan. To complement this, we are soon to release our ACER Primary Teachers’ Survey NSW which provides, for the first time, crucial baseline data on music delivery in NSW public primary schools. This follows the May 2024 launch of our SA pilot with Education Minister, The Hon. Blair Boyer, MP.
SA Education Minister, Blair Boyer, at the launch of the ACER Primary Teachers’ Survey SA at Adelaide’s The Pines School.
- Our internal Impact Working Group continues to monitor our impact efforts; we integrated impact goals into staff performance reviews, and implemented a gender-neutral parental leave policy.
This year, our focus is turning towards developing a Sustainable Supply Chain Policy to ensure our partners align with our values and commitment to environmental and social impact. As a family business, we will continue driving the impact agenda and will speak on two panels at the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific in March. Additionally, we are formalising our commitment to reconciliation through the development of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), recognising the importance of self-determination for First Nations peoples, and meaningful engagement as allies.
While we’ve made great strides on our B Corp journey, we know there’s always more to be done. We look forward to continuing this path, embracing new opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and inspire others to join us in building a brighter, more sustainable future for all. Along the way, we’ve learned that even small steps and collective action are crucial in achieving lasting impact.
