Welcome to the October edition of our newsletter. This month’s stories remind us that meaningful change often begins with care: care for communities, the planet, and the systems that sustain both.
Across industries, we’re seeing businesses turn principles into practice, from advancing renewable energy access and responsible travel to setting higher standards for transparency and accountability. Innovation is taking many forms: redefining hospitality through sustainability, strengthening ESG reporting, and reimagining what purposeful leadership looks like in a changing world. These conversations and actions, from reimagining food systems in Thailand to global gatherings in Brazil, reflect a shared determination to build an economy rooted in care and collective responsibility.
Thank you for being part of this evolving movement. Your engagement and collaboration continue to inspire us, and we remain here to support you as we learn, grow, and create lasting impact together.
The B Market Builder Southeast Asia Team
Turning Learning into Lasting Impact
We’re excited to welcome WAKUWORK to the B Corp community. Operating in Japan and the Philippines, WAKUWORK connects purpose-driven learning with social impact. Its ecosystem channels revenue from online English lessons in Japan to fund education programs for underserved youth in the Philippines, sharing a mission of empowerment and lifelong growth.
Extending Sustainability from the Ground to Space
We’re proud to welcome Eralda Industries Ltd and Spaces4good to the ASEAN B Corp community. Eralda Industries, certified by B Lab Hong Kong/Macau in 2023, brings over 50 years of sourcing excellence, advancing responsible production and sustainability across Southeast Asia. Dutch social enterprise Space4Good, certified by B Lab EU in 2021, harnesses satellite technology, GIS, and AI to address environmental and social challenges worldwide, with growing operations in the region.
The Ocean’s Answer to Plastic
MYCL unveiled Mylea™ Sea, its latest seaweed-based biomaterial, at the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum 2025, in collaboration with DBS Bank. Sourced from Indonesia’s coastal farms, this innovation transforms seaweed into high-performance, affordable alternatives to plastic for fashion and packaging.
Lighting 150 Homes, Empowering 795 Lives
Solar Chapter and the EXO Foundation joined hands to deliver solar-powered lighting to 150 households in a remote village in Indonesia, benefiting 795 residents. The initiative cuts household lighting costs by 80%, saves over IDR 162 million annually, and prevents 860 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per home each year. Beyond renewable light, it creates safer homes, cleaner air, and new opportunities for study, work, and family connection.
New Free Course on the 2025 B Lab Standards
The ESG Business Institute, in collaboration with B Market Builder Southeast Asia, has launched a free e-learning course on the new B Lab Standards. Available in English and Spanish, the course offers practical guidance on eligibility, accountability, and impact management, helping organizations align with B Lab’s global vision for credible and purpose-driven business performance.
Note: Given that B Lab Standards are continuously refined, the course content will adapt accordingly to provide the most up-to-date guidance and practical insights.
Desa Potato Head Ranks Among Asia’s Best
Desa Potato Head Bali has once again earned a spot among Asia’s top hotels in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Celebrated for its innovative design, sustainability ethos, and community-driven hospitality, Desa Potato Head continues to redefine conscious travel in Bali. This repeat recognition places it alongside Asia’s most acclaimed destinations, reaffirming its status as a global leader in responsible luxury and cultural experience.
Forging a Healthier, Fairer Food Future for All
At Danone Thailand’s 2025 Sustainability Press Conference, industry leaders and experts explored how collaboration can advance a fair, health-focused food system. Ee Beng Tan, Director of B Market Builder SEA, joined the panel to highlight how ethics, transparency, and accountability, which are embedded in B Corp Standards, can strengthen trust and drive measurable impact across Thailand’s evolving food ecosystem.
Care as Resistance
“Care is perhaps our most fundamental human need… a lack of care breeds fear, and when we are afraid, we’re vulnerable to those who seek power,” said B Lab Co-founder Jay Coen Gilbert at Encuentro+B 2025 in Belém, Brazil. The largest gathering of Latin American B Corps, the event explored how care, guided by the new B Lab Standards, can reshape businesses.
Can Travel Be Truly Sustainable?
In Episode 2 of Forces for Good (Season 4), B Lab Global explores whether one of the world’s largest industries, travel, can become a genuine force for regeneration. Featuring Julie Cheetham, COO of Travalyst, and Rodrigo Atuesta, CIO of Colombian B Corp Impulse Travel, the discussion dives into how tourism can protect ecosystems, preserve culture, and empower communities through responsible practices and better data-driven decisions.
Winning the Race to Zero
In Episode 3 of Forces for Good (Season 4), B Lab Global examines how businesses can still thrive despite cutting emissions. From SMEs to global corporations, the race to net zero is redefining what leadership looks like. Host Irving Chan-Gomez, together with Jane Eisenhardt of the UN Climate Champions and Cecilia Plicco of Chiesi Group, a certified B Corp, prove that even high-emission industries can drive meaningful decarbonization.
Deep-Dive into Sustainability Reporting
Frameworks like GRI and ISSB can be complex, especially with dual-reporting requirements. Genashtim and Deloitte are conducting a two-day training course, “Deep-Dive into Sustainability Reporting”, on 12-13 November 2025 at Dorsett Grand Subang to help professionals gain clarity and confidence in sustainability reporting. Learn to align financial and sustainability goals, assess climate risks, and apply global disclosure standards effectively. Register now to secure your spot and enhance your reporting expertise.
Stay tuned for more updates! Got questions? Drop us a message at comms@bcorpsea.org
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