Travel with a heart for the world
Riksja Travel is not your average travel agency. They believe that travel is more than just a ticket and a hotel. Travel also contributes to a healthier and better world. And in a world where the travel industry is under scrutiny due to the negative impact of flying, Riksja sought a way to make their impact, both positive and negative, measurable, transparent, and credible.
We helped them with this challenge and used the B Corp framework to guide them in a structured and efficient way.
The Challenge: The paradox of travel
When we first sat down with Riksja, their honesty immediately struck us. They named the elephant in the room: flying has a negative impact on the planet. That impact is very tangible and measurable.
The challenge? The positive impact of travel is often much harder to express in figures. Think of the economic support for local communities, the preservation of small-scale hotels, and the personal growth of travelers who step out of their bubble.
Riksja wanted an answer to two pressing questions:
How do we better map out our positive impact and tell that story in an honest way?
How do we reduce our negative impact with a concrete and credible plan?
The combination of your knowledge, project-based approach, and commitment was exactly what we needed to make this process run smoothly.
Full steam ahead with the B-team
To pursue Riksja's ambitions, we dove into the B Corp trajectory together. Not a lengthy process of years, but an intensive sprint of three to four months. Riksja was, after all, already an organization with a positive impact in their heart and DNA from the start.
The approach
The B-team: We put together a core team within Riksja to focus on the task at hand. People with different areas of expertise from different Riksja teams were brought on board to represent all branches of the company. This worked very well! Everyone was motivated and all (B Corp) impact topics had an owner.
Weekly B Corp-day: We met every Tuesday. This created a tight rhythm in which we could immediately implement improvements and tick off action points.
From data to story: We not only helped Riksja complete the BIA (B Impact Assessment), but also translate their impact into concrete policy points, business processes, and an impact report.
You know the B Impact Assessment inside out and know exactly which parts are interrelated. You look beyond just ticking boxes.
How Riskja Travel describes our collaboration
"At first, we thought the BIA was just a standard questionnaire that you simply tick off. But it turned out to be much more than that. We didn't just want to collect points, we wanted to really increase our positive impact. But: How do you tackle this? Which questions are interrelated and how do you use the Business Impact Models in a smart way?
Your guidance was really top notch in that regard, as you explained everything clearly in the team meetings. This made the entire process clear and concrete, and we were able to work with different teams at the same time. Everything was clearly organized in one place, which made it super practical."
The Result: A compass for the future
Within a quarter, Riksja Travel was fully prepared for certification. The process delivered more than just a list of checked-off requirements:
Focus and Energy: The intensive collaboration provided a boost in motivation within the organization.
Measurability: The positive impact on local partners and communities is now anchored in their business operations.
High ambitions: Riksja has grown from a baseline score of 64.9 to a target score of over 90 points. 💜
Credibility: With the B Corp framework, Riksja has objective proof that they use travel as a force for good.
The Advice for other companies?
“First, ask yourself why you want to be B Corp certified. If it's more than just adding a label to your brand, the process will really come to life. That helps to attract the right people, people who are intrinsically motivated and want to work together to make it a successful and supported project”, says Sabine Vroem from Riskja Travel.
Why we will miss the Tuesdays at Riksja
A trajectory like this stands or falls with the people. What truly made this project special for us was the impression the Riksja team left behind:
Result-oriented & Autonomous: Everyone took on their own role, which meant we finished exactly according to plan.
Positive mindset: Even when things got tough, everyone put their best foot forward without complaining.
Genuine love for the world: That passion is visible not only in their trips but down to the smallest practical details in the office.
The pleasant working atmosphere and the room for fun made us feel truly part of the team.
Thank you Riksja! 💜
