Travel has changed. More than ever, people feel a deep desire for our journeys to mean something. We want adventures that don't just show us the world but also make a positive impact on it. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, we have a deep respect for the land and a culture of guardianship towards it (kaitiakitanga), so this call to travel with purpose resonates strongly.
This philosophy has guided us on our own journey, and we are incredibly proud to announce that Wilderness Motorhomes is now a certified B Corporation. With this certification, we formally join a global community of businesses using their operations as a force for good. We're honoured to stand alongside over 170 other New Zealand B Corps — including a growing number in tourism — who are all working to build a more inclusive and regenerative economy.
When you choose to explore with Wilderness, you choose an adventure with a company that’s part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
What does it mean to be B Corp certified?
Think of B Corp as a complete 360-degree health check-up for a business. It's an independent verification by the non-profit B Lab that examines a company's entire operation to distinguish genuinely committed companies from those that simply want to look good.
Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
This holistic approach examines five key areas of impact: governance, workers, community, customers, and the environment. It proves that a company’s commitment to doing good is woven into its legal structure and the fabric of its operations, far beyond its sustainability initiatives.
As a certified B Corp, we have joined the ranks of travel companies like Patagonia, Intrepid Travel, Exodus Adventure Travel, and others.
Our journey to B Corp: a commitment to real impact
At Wilderness, we‘ve always lived by our value of making our planet a better place. Becoming a B Corp gives us a framework that helps us continuously improve and holds us accountable to that promise.
To say I'm proud would be an understatement. This certification is a real testament to our team's incredible passion and hard work. We’ve always felt a deep sense of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, for Aotearoa. But good intentions weren't enough. We pursued B Corp certification to hold ourselves to the highest possible standard. We wanted a framework that would challenge us to look deeper, measure our impact, and prove — to ourselves and to our guests — that our commitment to our land, our people, and our communities is at the core of every single thing we do.
The path to certification is a rigorous process centred around the B Impact Assessment. This comprehensive tool measures a company's impact across hundreds of detailed questions. To even be considered, a business must achieve a minimum verified score of 80 out of 200 points. To put that in perspective, the median score for ordinary businesses that complete the assessment is around 50.
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
One of the most challenging parts of the B Impact Assessment was that it really pushed us to go beyond the surface. It made us take a deeper look at many areas of our business and challenge ourselves in ways we hadn’t before. There were moments when we thought certain things were too difficult or only achievable for much larger organisations, but the process encouraged us to find ways to make them work. As a result, we were able to implement systems and initiatives that we previously didn’t think were possible for a company of our size.
The other realisation was about how broad sustainability truly is. It is not just about recycling or reducing emissions, but about running a sustainable business in every sense. That means looking after our people, supporting our communities, and ensuring that the business remains strong and can contribute positively in the long term. It is about creating a business that can continue to provide meaningful jobs, operate ethically, and make a lasting, positive impact on people and the planet.
How our B Corp certification makes your travel experience better
Choosing a company committed to doing good feels right, but it also has tangible benefits that directly enhance your adventure. Our B Corp certification is proof of our positive impact across all five key areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. Here’s how that commitment creates a better journey for you.
Governance: an adventure built on trust and transparency
This pillar is about accountability. Our B Corp certification is a legally binding commitment to consider the impact of our decisions on all stakeholders—from our team to our customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. For you, this means peace of mind. It’s an assurance that our values aren't just a marketing slogan; they are embedded in the very structure of our company, ensuring we operate with integrity and transparency.
Workers: supporting a team that's cared for
A happy, supported team provides the best possible service. This pillar recognises our commitment to our employees' well-being. Your journey helps us provide progressive benefits like an employee assistance programme, free private health insurance, and extended secondary caregiver leave. We are also proud members of Pride Pledge, committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment. When you travel with us, you're being looked after by people who are looked after too.
Community: caring for our communities
Your adventure with us creates positive ripples throughout New Zealand. This pillar measures our positive engagement with our local community. We are dedicated to partnering with ethical suppliers, such as Will & Able, a social enterprise that creates jobs for New Zealanders with disabilities. Furthermore, our partnership with Trees That Count allows our customers to support native tree planting projects across Aotearoa, leaving a lasting legacy. We are also proud supporters of the Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, an organisation we've partnered with since 2018 that provides families in our neighbourhood, South Auckland, with crucial housing solutions and wrap-around services to build independence.
Environment: a deep commitment to protecting Aotearoa
This pillar is about our relationship with the planet. While our motorhomes have a footprint, we actively work to reduce it. Our non-rental fleet, such as shuttle, courtesy and workshop vehicles, now includes electric models. We have also implemented energy reduction initiatives and offset our emissions through Forever Forests. Your vehicle is designed for conscious travel, with a repair-first policy for parts and comprehensive recycling systems. To make this easy and help you minimise waste on the road, we provide reusable coffee cups for your journey, refillable dishwashing liquid, and a "share shelf" at our bases where you can leave unused food items for the next traveller.
Our commitment also extends to protecting native wildlife through our support of the Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT), which helps to restore the natural bird song and forest health of the peninsula.
Customers: an experience designed for you
This pillar focuses on the value we provide to you, our customer. Beyond ethical marketing and data privacy, it’s about the quality of your experience. Our commitment to longevity and reducing waste through our repair programme also means you get a meticulously maintained, high-quality vehicle. The thoughtful amenities we provide and the exceptional service from our dedicated team are all part of our mission to ensure your adventure is not only responsible but truly unforgettable.
The journey continues
We see our B Corp certification not as a destination, but as the first major milestone on a continuous road trip. It's a commitment to getting better, year after year. B Corps must recertify every three years, which pushes us to constantly improve and innovate.
Our next big step is to work even more closely with our suppliers and take a closer look at our entire supply chain. This is where a lot of our future impact lies, from further decarbonisation to creating more opportunities for positive change. We also want to keep finding new ways to support our team and strengthen our connection with the communities around us.
We absolutely see this as the first major milestone on a continuous journey, a formal promise that we will keep pushing ourselves to innovate and improve. It deepens our responsibility and makes us even more excited to keep innovating across the whole business. This now includes everything from pioneering new ways to support our team to our long-term goals in decarbonisation and protecting Aotearoa. We're truly motivated to be a catalyst for change within our industry.
There is still so much more we can do, and that’s what makes this journey so exciting. One of the most rewarding things we’re already seeing is that some of our suppliers have started reaching out to ask questions and explore their sustainability pathways. Knowing that our progress can help inspire others is incredibly motivating, showing that businesses of any size can make a real difference for people, communities and the planet.
Experience responsible travel with New Zealand's first B Corp-certified motorhome company.
Learn more about our B Corp journey.
