WeTransfer, the company that makes tools to move ideas, today announced it has become a Certified B Corporation, marking WeTransfer among the few global technology organizations to earn the prestigious designation indicating high environmental, social, and legal standards. Also today, WeTransfer announced it has appointed Baroness Martha Lane Fox to chair its board of directors. Martha co-founded the travel deal website, Lastminute.com, in 1998 before it went public two years later. She also serves as the founder of DotEveryone, a think tank focused on championing responsible technology, and sits on the boards of Twitter and Chanel. Martha was Britain’s Digital Championer from 2009 – 2013 and is recognized globally for her work championing for better nationwide access to the internet and digital literacy.
“WeTransfer, founded over 10 years ago, has long supported the values espoused by Certified B Corporations: balancing people, planet and profit. This announcement marks our continued efforts and commitment toward promoting responsible technology and business,” said Gordon Willoughby, WeTransfer’s CEO. “We believe in accountability for the products and technology we put into the world, and we will strive to push our peers to transform our industry into a more responsible and sustainable one.”
Building a business that’s a force for good is at the core of WeTransfer’s company ethos. Since the beginning, WeTransfer has maintained a commitment to its creative community through a wide spectrum of initiatives, including donating 30% of its advertising space to support artists and social causes. To date, WeTransfer has donated more than $300 million worth in advertising inventory, raising awareness for issues such as gun control and net neutrality. Last year, it helped abolish $35 million in medical debt for low-income residents of Los Angeles, following an in-depth whitepaper, On Companies and Communities, exploring how businesses can and should be working with their local communities.
Now, more than ever, WeTransfer is committing to setting the bar for responsible technology companies. This year the company is conducting an audit with DotEveryone that will establish what responsible growth means to WeTransfer, and ensure its platform supports a fair, inclusive and sustainable society. It is also taking the first step in reducing its environmental footprint by becoming carbon neutral this year and committing to a 30% CO2 reduction by 2025. Through this work, WeTransfer aims to signal a better approach to business and growth to the larger tech industry.
“WeTransfer is one of the few examples of a company that believes stakeholders, users, employees and society are linked together and that by growing in a responsible way, the company will be more successful.” says Martha Lane Fox. “I’m extremely excited to help the company on this important journey.”
To encourage other brands to join this journey, WeTransfer will provide special advertising rates at a 20% discount, for other companies that successfully achieve B-Corp certification, as well as companies already certified by B Lab.
For more information about WeTransfer’s sustainability roadmap please visit we.tl/pledgetotheplanet. For more information on B Corporations and the certification process, please visit https://bcorporation.net/
