FEATURING 2023 Benefit Report
Hello, Friends of Yulu!
We hope this newsletter finds you feeling rested and refreshed. We're certainly feeling energized about the year to come following a very rewarding 2023.
Some notable highlights on our side:
Yulu became a certified Women-Owned business, joining a strong ecosystem that connects women-owned businesses to opportunities through advocacy and development.
The Impact Communications Institute continued its Impact Council series, launching a new partnership with 3BL Media to further its reach and educate impact communicators worldwide. This year, speakers included the United States Space Force, Greyston Bakery, and Ben & Jerry's (be sure to join our mailing list for updates on our upcoming Impact Councils – or watch back one of our most recent ones).
Our three agency divisions – Environmental, Social and Digital Impact – all expanded and spearheaded meaningful work for their clients, tackling global issues ranging from the climate and biodiversity crises to poverty, hunger and mental health.
As always, we are proud to share some of the work that inspired us the most in 2023 via our annual Benefit Report. If this is your first time reading Yulu's Benefit Report, it serves a few purposes: to provide a testament to the power of impact storytelling, to showcase the meaningful work of our partners, and to connect their important work with those who can scale it and those who can benefit from it. It also fulfills our obligation as a Benefit Company to assess our performance in promoting our six areas of public benefit and innovation: Environmental Impact, Economic Development, Cultural & Societal Benefit, Industry Advancement, and Global Relief.
There’s a lot more exciting work for us on the horizon – new client partners being welcomed into the fold, more work advancing the mandate of the Impact Communications Institute, and some surprises coming down the pipe that you’ll just have to keep reading to learn about.
Here’s to an impactful 2024.
With gratitude, The Yulu Team
The Impact Relations Institute (now renamed Impact Communications Institute) continued its Impact Council series, launching a new partnership with 3BL Media to further its reach and educate impact communicators worldwide. This year, speakers included the United States Space Force, Greyston Bakery, and Ben & Jerry's; on topics including the future of ESG, AI for impact communicators, and how brands can leverage lived experiences responsibly.
FEATURED
Yulu became a certified Women-Owned business, joining a strong ecosystem that connects women-owned businesses to opportunities through advocacy and development, helping to bridge the gap for women-owned businesses.
For the second year running, Yulu’s VP of Environmental Impact, Charlotte Gilmour, was a judge for the Synergy Foundation’s Net Zero contest. Ten entrepreneurs competed to showcase their approach to improving BC’s circular economy.
For the second year running, Yulu is a certified Plastic Negative business through rePurpose Global, supporting its mission to fight global plastic pollution.
Yulu hosted its first ‘Climate Collective,’ bringing together 10+ experienced climate communicators from across North America to discuss how to accelerate climate solutions on Earth Day.
Announced Wild + Pine’s largest partnership to date with Aviva Canada to build carbon removal assets that will last for generations, with an exclusive in The Globe & Mail and coverage across BNN, The Logic, and Carbon Pulse.
Amplified the excellent conservation work of The Nature Trust of BC through 200+ pieces of coverage and 50+ influencer posts, leading directly to donations.
Managed community relations around the largest estuary restoration project on Vancouver Island, resulting in 55 media pieces and direct-to-community engagement.
Developed the first industry ESG Profile for BC’s forest sector to illustrate the impact of BC's world-class forest sector to international buyers.
Announced SINAI’s partnerships with MUFG, SCSK, RMI, Patch, Sumitomo, ArcelorMittal, and OnePointFive, reinforcing it as a leader taking action on carbon.
Announced the partnership between Shift and the Malahat Nation to transition the Nation’s administrative operations to solar power, demonstrating how Shift’s approach to energy storage can deliver energy to rural areas with zero emissions. Coverage was secured across BNN Bloomberg, BC Business, and Times Colonist.
Secured Pano’s placement as a WEF Tech Pioneer cohort winner and Inc Best in Business, accelerating awareness of the climate adaptation sector. This was paired with 90+ media placements of Pano's wildfire detection technology in the US and Canadian markets.
Supported Lightstar’s Lucy Bullock-Sieger to be selected as a Grist 50 winner, championing the importance of community solar in leading the renewable energy transition.
Generated 67k views from the Earth Day video Yulu produced, serving as a key relationship-building tool for the company.
Announced a landmark moment for carbon removal, with the largest Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) offtake to date by Frontier buyers. The story was featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, Greenbiz, VERGE, Wired, and more.
Announced robust new commitments and certifications: the company committed to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Net Zero Carbon Standard, became the first construction manufacturer in North America to receive TRUE certification for Zero Waste, and announced the publication of Health Product Declaration (HPD) for its core products, demonstrating its continued commitment to decarbonizing the built environment.
Fifth consecutive year of leading strategic PR initiatives to advance Carbon Engineering’s presence in key markets, helping to catalyze impactful partnerships and accelerate the adoption of Direct Air Capture as a carbon removal solution.
Leveraged a series of influencer campaigns and earned media, which played an integral role in Traditional Medicinals' Canadian business growth. In 2023, the Canadian business grew by over $3.3 million in dollar sales, marking an increase of almost 18% compared to the previous year.
Supported with an impactful announcement for the Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty, which is fighting for a pragmatic and inclusive Global Plastics Treaty led by rePurpose Global. Secured coverage in Forbes, Triple Pundit, Verdantix, Mongabay, Sustainable Brands, and Packaging Dive.
Strengthened media relations in the Horn of Africa and Haiti by building connections with top global reporters at Bloomberg, Associated Press, Miami Herald and World Magazine among others, to demonstrate the organization’s expertise through food security and disaster preparedness programs in the region.
Supported the announcement of Orijin (formally APDS) partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to provide free tablet education from day one of incarceration for every person incarcerated in state institutions. Additionally, helped Orijin secure a spot on the Fortune 2023 Impact 20 list.
Secured 280+ applications for the third year of Audible Indigenous Writers Circle, welcoming 24 new participants to the program (a 33% increase in 2022). Also, 14 workshops, four open mic sessions, and 13 Audible Coffee 121 chats were held to provide skills and mentorship to the 2023
Audible Indigenous Writers Circle cohort.
Launched Recovery Colleges in Vancouver for CMHA, allowing people to steer their journey to mental health and wellness. The outcome of a news conference wasn’t just coverage and social media mentions but also deepened partner and government relations.
Yulu launched its Justice & Antiracism (JAR) Content Club to help progress our JAR education by inviting team members to immerse themselves in Black, Indigenous, Racialized, and social justice-focused “works” of all forms (movies, podcasts, books) and then come together to discuss them.
Yulu was named one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2023, recognized for prioritizing the team's well-being and, hopefully, inspiring others to do the same.
Interviewed 18 key voices, developed an interview insights report, and developed an issues framework/decision-making tree and communications plan to increase B Lab US & Canada’s impact in 2024.
Secured coverage across all top-tier BC media (Globe & Mail, Vancouver Sun, Province, BIV and Financial Post) to address the ‘RESP Gap’ that high-income families are 50% more likely to have an RESP than low-income families.
Leveraged earned and paid social media to support Places for People non-profit to raise $850,000 to support their affordable housing project in Haliburton.
Thank You