the days when only black or red numbers defined a business are over. many companies
big and small are recognizing their power to change the world and their responsibilities
beyond generating profits. in order to ensure a sustainable future for our children
and our planet, businesses must possess an urgent commitment to lead.
[business] & goji
existing as a privately funded enterprise gives us an advantage (though it's certainly
not financial!). the three of us can define our role as a business in society and
decide what values [me] & goji represents without having to accommodate bottom-line
outside investors. before we spent a dollar, we decided that with such a profusion
of consumer products today, our existence was only deserved if it spurred a positive,
measurable effect on society and on the earth.
it came down to this simple question, that sounds cheesy, but every company should
ask of itself: is the world a better place if our company exists?
we took it as our responsibility then and it is our driving mission now to ensure
the answer is yes. we believe the bottom line will follow if everything above
it is done the right way. we believe in the power of a small group of passionate
people to change the world, so we give 5% of our profits to local and regional charities
with a focused cause and low overheard.
sure, we'll make mistakes. but we'll own up to them, correct them wherever possible,
and, most importantly, learn from them. we are committed to improving each day in
ways that benefit society, the environment, our families, our employees, and our
customers. we encourage you to challenge us, to questions us, to be part of the
improvement process.
it is important to note that we did not invent these socially responsible business
philosophies. pioneers like gary hirschberg of stonyfield and yvon chouinard
of patagonia did. we want to thank these leaders and others for fearing the
norm, refusing to settle, and setting the example. we hope to be one more company
out there that does things the right way.