Code of Ethics and Conduct

TRANSFORMATION AGENTS

Impact clients, partner third sector organizations and their direct beneficiaries

COLLABORATORS

Interns, apprentices, managers and employees of contracted companies. EMPLOYEES People with employment relationships with Impact.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Directors of the Company.

RESPECT

The relationship with the Impact community must always be based on respect, dignity and non-discrimination of people. We respect and value the ancestral knowledge of past generations and respect the limits of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Impact refuses and repudiates any degrading attitude against the planet and its biodiversity and any hostile or humiliating attitude against people, does not tolerate disrespect for dignity, equality, diversity, privacy of people and life. The work environment and relationships must be guided by professionalism, respecting different cultures, beliefs and positions.

HONESTY

We expect the conduct of Impact community members to have honesty as their standard. We must do and communicate only what is correct, we must act in good faith, with integrity and sincerity in matters affecting community duties and interests.

TRANSPARENCY

Impact strives for transparency in its relationships, actions and business. The secrecy and confidentiality of information are required in our routine. The trust of our partners is linked to the access that Impact gives to information, accountability and decision-making. However, actions deliberately executed in secret are not ethical and acceptable.

RESPONSIBILITY

Each member of the Impact community is responsible for their actions and decisions. We must be responsible for creating a transparent, respectful and safe environment, so that relationships and business are ethical and regenerative. It is also our responsibility to know, care for and comply with established internal policies and procedures.

HARMONY AND RECIPROCITY

Harmony is understood as the combination of elements linked by a relationship of relevance, which produces a pleasant and pleasurable sensation. The concept reflects a culture of peace between the Impact community, our products and services, and the balance between business, people and planet. If a relationship, of any nature, or the perception of any product or service does not sound harmonious, it is a signal to stop, communicate, reflect and co-create solutions, from listening and collective and inclusive construction. Remember that each of us, members of the Impact community, contribute to the harmony of the community and the movement in which we choose to be inserted, just as the community and the movement as a whole contribute directly to our harmony and prosperity as individuals.

1. Right relationship

Understands that the ecosphere is composed of nested systems, living and non-living. Recognizes that the human economy is embedded in culture and the ecosphere and must operate in dynamic and cooperative relationship with them, respecting cultural needs and planetary boundaries. Allows critical exchanges of added value to occur at all scales in reciprocal relationship, in contrast to commoditized transactions.

How we position ourselves

There is a growing movement of companies that see their role as more than simply maximizing shareholder value. One example is B Corporations, which prioritize environmental and social goals as much as fiscal ones, and understand that they can make the world a better place than it was when they started - and they do so profitably. Impact has already begun the process of B Corporation certification, following in the footsteps of Welight Social Technology, where we originated. We operate with our social and environmental duty as the focus in defining policies, standards and procedures for preventing and combating corruption, as well as money laundering and terrorism financing. We repudiate any form of degrading work. It is part of our institutional culture to develop and support regenerative development initiatives and we value bonds established with the communities in which we operate and respect their cultural values and knowledge and return to the community a portion of the value added to business.

What we can do as individuals

Observe instances of cooperation around you all the time - in nature, in the business world and in human culture more broadly. Incorporate this principle by reflecting on opportunities for cooperation and healthy interactions and take advantage of them when possible. For example, companies can expand their relationship with local companies and suppliers. As an individual, seek collaboration and advice from neighbors on your projects, such as gardening, creative work or commercial ventures. Support organizations, movements and leadership that focus on having a right relationship with nature and society.

2. Seeing wealth holistically

True wealth is not just money in the bank. It starts from the assumption that wealth is the well-being of the whole, which must be achieved through harmonizing multiple types of wealth or capital, including social, cultural, living and experiential. It recognizes that countless dimensions of human and natural capital cannot be measured in monetary terms, but must be nurtured as intrinsic components of holistic wealth. Thus, wealth must be defined by broadly shared prosperity across all varied forms of capital.

How we position ourselves

Companies that incorporate regenerative principles know that wealth is more than just financial. Impact SA values its human capital, in the form of happy and well-cared-for employees; values and encourages its cultural capital by providing a space for positive, diverse and strengthening interactions to occur; and values natural capital, creating value chains that improve the health of the planet we share.

What we can do as individuals

Take stock of the various forms of wealth you possess, beyond financial. Perhaps it is a satisfying social network, access to parks and natural spaces, the ability to pursue curiosity and develop intellectually, or spiritual fulfillment. Support community organizations that emphasize multiple forms of capital and seek to build the various types of wealth that can provide deeper fulfillment than money.

3. Innovative, adaptable, responsive

In a world where change is always present, the qualities of innovation and adaptability are essential for the health of the whole. In a comparison to Charles Darwin theory, the fittest is the one that fits best, the one that is most adaptable to a changing environment.

How we position ourselves

The application here is clear: humans have a special talent for solving problems in creative ways. Companies that do well are the ones that survive. Creative business models are usually the best at solving difficult problems, in a way that also benefits local communities and the planet.

What we can do as individuals

Everyone has creative skills, even if they haven not been intentionally exercised recently. Challenge your habitual ways of thinking about social problems - be willing to let go of ideas about what should work and what has already been done. Consider solutions or ideas that seem irrational or impossible, because once more options are on the table, innovative solutions can emerge.

4. Empowered participation

All healthy living systems are self-organized and operate through continuous negotiation among themselves and in constant interaction. Similarly, a healthy human economy requires the empowered participation of individuals and groups, negotiating in their own enlightened interest, as they naturally promote the health of the whole.

How we position ourselves

We adopt a decentralized leadership model as a way to ensure that everyone has a voice, ensure adherence to Impact SA community goals, strengthen professional relationships, and create a healthy and empowering collective.

What we can do as individuals

Recognizing that the best scenarios are those where everyone benefits, seek ways to strengthen these interactions in the world. Support solutions and policies that are good for people and the planet. Many policies that are good for the planet are also beneficial to people and the economy, and our elected officials need to know we support them. In business, seek to bring as many stakeholders into the conversation as possible, rather than restricting decision-making to smaller, closed groups.

5. Honor communities and places

Each human community consists of a mosaic of peoples, traditions, beliefs and institutions uniquely shaped by long-term pressures of geography, human history, culture, local environment and changes in human needs. Honoring this fact, a regenerative economy nurtures healthy and resilient communities and regions, each uniquely informed by the essence of their individual history and place.

How we position ourselves

In a world seemingly dominated by large companies, small companies can have important collaborative advantages that should be strengthened. Traditional and indigenous communities in Brazil and local populations possess a vast collection of specific knowledge about their territory, culture, economy, wildlife, biodiversity, climate and soil conditions specific to their area. Knowledge holders can often be more successful than larger companies trying to apply off-the-shelf solutions. Similarly, in partnership with organizations and groups working in different territories, we seek to catalyze local energy and knowledge to adapt solutions that would not be possible without special place-based knowledge.

What we can do as individuals

Think about how your locality is unique and worthy of celebration. Take pride in your place by being a patron and promote, encourage and participate in activities that regenerate your region and its people.

6. Abundance of edge effect

Creativity and abundance flourish synergistically at the "edges" of systems, where the bonds that hold the dominant pattern in place are weakest. For example, there is an abundance of interdependent life in salt marshes where a river meets the ocean. At these edges, opportunities for innovation and cross-pollination are greatest. Working collaboratively across boundaries - with continuous learning and development from the diversity that exists there - is transformative both for the communities where exchanges are taking place and for the individuals involved.

How we position ourselves

Companies with greater diversity are more innovative, generate more profits and have more satisfied employees. Diverse perspectives help groups make more informed decisions, lead to greater creativity and promote respectful environments. This business "edge effect" is a feature of more regenerative economic systems.

What we can do as individuals

Notice the ways in which diversity in its many forms - in your social network, the cultures you have experienced, the ideas you consider, the foods you try - can enrich your life. In your workplace, see if there are ways to introduce unconventional perspectives or bring in people who have them. While experts have some strengths, generalists who are well versed in a variety of topics can often have creative insights or valuable ideas. Look for connections between disparate areas of your knowledge.

7. Robust circular flow

A regenerative economy mimics the metabolic process found in resilient living systems, harnessing what we now discard as "waste" in a continuous, productive, circulatory and value-added flow. Similarly, the regenerative model promotes the circular flow of value creation of money, information, efficient use and reuse of materials and are particularly important for individuals, companies and economies to achieve expected regenerative potential.

How we position ourselves

Being a movement primarily guided by digital, our parallel is made with money circulation. We conceive solutions from guiding questions of "How to mobilize capital to finance transformations for a more just and regenerative future?", "How can we maximize the positive impact of money circulation?" and "What are the most efficient strategies and vehicles to finance social and environmental impact initiatives?". Nevertheless, we seek to incorporate the circular economy of energy and materials as much as possible, reducing, reusing, recovering and recycling. One example is the next version of our Impact SA Card, which we are working with suppliers to offer a recycled plastic card taken from the oceans.

What we can do as individuals

Find ways to reduce or reuse "waste" in your own life. Reflect, everyone profits from the absence of waste - and so does the planet! Get to know the content platform YAM - the voice of the heart, as another way to approach a sustainable lifestyle. Food: reduce animal protein consumption, plan your purchases and seek to buy from small local producers, plant at home, eliminate the concept of waste by reusing leftovers, and have composting at home for what cannot be used as food. There are several tutorials on the internet for you to create your own composter at home and contribute to this cycle. To know much more, see here a YAM guide with 10 steps to avoid food waste. Plastics: eliminate those that are not necessary, reuse and recycle, keeping them in the economy and out of the environment. Learn more in the Recycling for Real guide, from the YAM platform. Fashion: seek to ensure that clothes and accessories are worn more often, can be transformed into new pieces and look for those made from safe and renewable materials. Finance: seek to support companies in their transition to circular business models and support movements, NGOs and leadership that develop circular economy solutions.

8. Search for balance

Being in balance is more than just a pleasant way to be. It is actually essential for systemic health. Like a canoeist rowing her thin canoe in turbulent waters, regenerative systems are always engaged in this delicate dance in search of balance. Achieving this requires them to harmonize multiple variables rather than optimize single ones. A regenerative economy seeks to balance efficiency and resilience, collaboration and competition, diversity and coherence, and the needs of small, medium and large organizations.

How we position ourselves

Often, businesses have been a force that pushes natural and social systems out of balance - but many are now changing their priorities to help restore balance. B System companies and regenerative business models balance profit motivation with equal emphasis on people and planet. Impact SA was conceived as a movement that puts first its contribution to social, ecological and economic systems operating in healthy balance.

What we can do as individuals

Balance is a theme that permeates each of the Regenerative Principles. Things simply work better when they are in balance. Consider things in your own life that seem unbalanced and look for ways to restore balance. Support movements, NGOs, companies, policies and politicians that aim to restore balance and help create systems that provide shared prosperity on a thriving planet.

MANAGERS

SUPPLIERS

We guide suppliers to follow the guidelines of this Code of Ethics. We must require from suppliers:

COMPETITORS

GOVERNMENTS

BENEFICIARIES