Popsa becomes a certified B Corp: what it means and why it matters

Popsa is now officially a Certified B Corporation (or B Corp for short). This move reflects our ongoing mission to combine technology, creativity, and responsibility in a way that makes a meaningful impact – not just on our customers, but on our planet and the people around us.

Why becoming a B Corp is a big deal

B Corp certification isn’t simply a badge of honour; it’s a rigorous process led by the nonprofit B Lab, which evaluates a company’s entire social and environmental impact. Unlike other certifications that might assess just a single product or service, B Corp looks at everything; from the materials you use and how you treat employees, to how you engage with your community and tackle governance and transparency.

For us at Popsa, it’s a formal acknowledgment of the work we’ve been doing behind the scenes for years. Our mission has always been about making it easier for people to relive their memories, using generative AI and cutting-edge design to transform everyday photos into tangible keepsakes. But it’s also about doing so responsibly, in a way that supports local communities, protects the environment, and respects every individual in our orbit.

Popsa’s sustainability journey

Environmental responsibility is a top priority for us. Over the past few years, we’ve taken several concrete steps to reduce our impact.

Carbon offsetting for every product

Since January 2024, we’ve committed to offsetting the emissions generated in the production of each product. At the end of every quarter, we measure our total carbon footprint using standards like ISO 14044:2006 & ISO 14040:2006, and then purchase high-quality, verified carbon credits to neutralise this impact.

Plastic-free packaging

All our packaging is plant-based and fully recyclable. We eliminated single-use plastic wherever possible, ensuring that everything from product boxes to shipping materials can be disposed of responsibly.

Local production partners

By working with production facilities close to our largest customer bases, we cut down on long-distance transportation. This helps reduce our overall carbon emissions and also supports local economies.

Responsibly sourced paper

We only use FSC-certified paper that meets strict sustainability standards. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification guarantees that the paper used in our Photo Books and other products comes from responsibly managed forests, preserving biodiversity and respecting local communities.

These initiatives were just the start. As we aligned our business with the B Corp framework, we found ourselves going deeper: reevaluating our governance, measuring our community impact, refining internal policies, and looking at how each business decision could bring broader benefits.

What we had to prove to B Lab

B Lab’s certification process is designed to rigorously assess every facet of a company’s impact. They look holistically at governance, treatment of employees, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and the value delivered to customers.

In our case, Popsa had to show that our internal governance structures don’t just serve shareholders, but also protect the interests of employees, local communities, and the planet. This meant revising our Articles of Association so we’re legally bound to consider the wellbeing of all our stakeholders whenever strategic decisions are made.

We also had to prove that our workforce is treated with fairness and respect. We highlighted our commitment to offering competitive compensation, fostering an inclusive workplace, and regularly seeking feedback on how we can improve.

As for community impact, demonstrating how we partner with local production facilities, donate to relevant causes, and support social initiatives was key in showing that our local presence truly benefits the neighbourhoods we operate in.

On the environmental front, B Lab required detailed evidence of how we measure and mitigate our impact. We presented data on everything from our carbon offsetting (which we calculate every quarter) to our switch to plastic-free packaging and FSC-certified paper – initiatives designed to lower our footprint across the board. 

Lastly, they scrutinised our relationship with our customers, ensuring we safeguard privacy, deliver high-quality products responsibly, and maintain honest, transparent communication.

We were then audited to confirm our investment in stringent data protection measures and user-friendly design so everyone – including technophobes – can preserve their memories. 

Our generative AI engine is built to be both powerful and respectful of user privacy, an ethos we believe sets us apart in the AI field.

After providing detailed evidence from across the business, undergoing a risk review, and scoring the necessary 80+ points on the B impact assessment, we officially joined the growing B Corp community of over 9,000 businesses worldwide.

Why B Corp matters to you, our customers

You might be reading this thinking, “That’s all well and good, but how does it affect me?” Here’s why B Corp certification should matter to you:

Trust and transparency

B Corp certification is your signal that we walk the talk. It’s not just marketing jargon; we’ve been vetted by an independent body and met their high standards.

Better products, better world

From the materials we use to the projects we support through carbon offsets, every Popsa product you purchase is backed by our commitment to do right by the planet, and everyone on it.

Continuous improvement

B Corps must re-certify every three years, so we can’t just rest on our laurels. We pledge to keep setting higher goals, tracking our progress, and being open about where we can still do better.

Beyond certification: what’s next?

Our B Corp status is a fantastic milestone, but it’s not the end of the road.

Roadmap to Net Zero

While offsetting carbon is a positive step, we ultimately want to reduce our emissions before they’re created. We’re in the process of developing a detailed Responsibility Roadmap that aligns with the global target of net-zero emissions by 2050 (and 50 per cent reduction by 2030).

Further innovation in materials: we’re exploring more advanced, sustainable materials for our products. Our hope is to introduce everything from recycled plastics for our photo tiles to even more eco-friendly inks in the near future.

Community impact: expect to see more local partnerships, not just in manufacturing but in educational and social programs. We want to apply our AI expertise to empower communities that might benefit from digital tools and skills training.

Join us on this journey

Being a B Corp means creating a community of businesses, customers, and stakeholders who believe in a better way forward. Your support enables us to keep innovating, keep offsetting, and keep exploring new ways to reduce our impact, while still making the process of preserving memories as effortless as possible.

To learn more about our sustainability efforts (past, present and future), check out our Sustainability Journey blog post and follow us on social media for the latest updates. We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can go further. After all, you’re on this journey with us.

Thank you for believing in us

Finally, to every customer who’s helped Popsa grow – your feedback, enthusiasm, and passion for our products motivate us to keep pushing boundaries. Becoming a B Corp is one more way we’re striving to ensure our growth is responsible and genuinely beneficial to everyone involved.

Here’s to the next chapter in our sustainability story, and to celebrating your life’s most meaningful moments in a way that respects and protects the only planet we have.