PEOPLE & PLANET | PLEDGES
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Kate Williams CEO , 1 % For The Planet
large and small could all make a difference and take responsibility for their impact . That ’ s how 1 % For The Planet was born .
Kate Williams – who became CEO of 1 % For The Planet in 2015 after working in the environmental nonprofit and outdoor adventure space for more than two decades – explains how it all began .
“ The idea for 1 % For The Planet sparked from a discussion on the environmental impact of business – and how business owners have a responsibility to give back to the planet ,” she tells Business Chief .
“ It started small , with most members being outdoor brands already focused on environmental advocacy . But the network grew rapidly as the logo and mission gained recognition . Today we have over 5,500 business members in more than 60 countries , spanning almost every industry you can think of . From legal services to baby products , 1 % For The Planet members no longer fit in any one category .”
Williams says she realised she wanted to pursue an environmental career when she was
18 and on a challenging group backpacking trip in the mountains of Wyoming .
Finding herself in a leadership position and dealing with injuries , bad weather and tasked with keeping up morale , Williams had something of an epiphany – that compassionate leadership was at the core of how she shows up for people and the planet .
Joining 1 % For The Planet is the culmination of those early ambitions . While Williams ’ personal beliefs make her involvement a no-brainer , what about the businesses that are signing up to literally give away 1 % of their total sales ? What kind of companies are they ?
“ Though they cover a wide variety of industries ( no more than 10 % of our network is in any single industry ), 1 % For The Planet
118 December 2023