London-based photographer Duncan Nicholls has supported environmental partner Surfers Against Sewage with photography and video support to bring their campaigns to life.
B2B and professional services are one of the largest and fastest-growing member segments in our network. Here’s why.
When you picture 1% for the Planet-certified brands, where does your mind go? If it conjures images of our logo on your favorite deodorant, ramen noodles, sunnies or laundry sheets, you’re not alone.
Our logo works great on product packaging and in retail displays because it communicates a whole lot of credibility in limited space. (And, in the process, influences 41% of people globally to purchase.) But the awesome brands behind these physical goods are far from the whole story when it comes to who’s driving the 1% for the Planet movement.
In reality, the lion’s share of 1% for the Planet Members are professional and business services. This means agencies, firms, recruiters, consultants and creatives. These are the folks shaping strategy, influencing culture, advising brands and setting industry standards. And they flock to 1% for the Planet certification because of the distinct value it provides them.
How many B2B companies are already 1% for the Planet members?
More than you might expect. We categorize our members by industry, and Professional & Business Services is our largest cohort by a long shot, at around 750 members. This group grew in both number and collective revenue in 2025, hitting a shared total revenue of more than $1 billion USD. This 14% YoY revenue growth shows that values-driven commitment is a measurable competitive advantage for this industry.
Is 1% for the Planet membership a good fit for B2B and professional services companies?
1% for the Planet certification appeals to B2B businesses for a variety of reasons, including the motivations shared with brands from all industries. These include credibility in a high-scrutiny environment, market differentiation, and boosts to talent engagement and retention. Global recruiting firm Booth, for example, reported a 17% increase in employee retention since becoming a 1% for the Planet Member in 2019.
Others appreciate the operational efficiency of our turnkey ESG solution for their small business. Debbie Thackray, impact director for consultancy AG Impact, noted that the 1% for the Planet platform saved a "significant amount of time" by providing a vetted directory of nonprofits, ensuring confidence in their impact strategy without the need for extensive internal research.
A widely shared reason for 1% for the Planet membership is that it holds companies accountable to their values and helps them grow a team that’s aligned with said values. According to Damon Roddis, director of global consulting services and engineering firm Zephyr Environmental, “Being a member of the 1% for the Planet movement since the company's inception has kept us grounded in the values that we aspire to and has helped us attract and retain like-minded individuals that share our passion.”
What competitive advantages does 1% for the Planet certification offer B2B brands?
But the case for B2B certification goes beyond the above reasons. For professional and business services companies, specifically, the value proposition of 1% for the Planet membership takes on a few additional dimensions.
- They can match their skills and services to nonprofit needs in our network.
Professional services members are uniquely positioned to put their 1% commitment to work beyond cash donations. By utilizing 1% for the Planet’s diverse contribution options (which include in-kind services or goods, volunteering and cash), they can give in ways that directly leverage their expertise—such as pro-bono marketing support, strategic consulting or content production.
Photographer Duncan Nicholls has forged meaningful relationships with (and produced powerful outcomes for) his environmental partners through in-kind giving. “When Surfers Against Sewage needed photography and a short film of their Thames Swim Against Sewage project, I brought everything I have: 20 years of visual storytelling experience, a deep love for the ocean, rivers and the natural world, and my belief in creativity as activism,” Nicholls says. “The result was a film and photographs that moved people, created real change and an experience that reminded me why I do this work. That's the power of in-kind giving when your skills are matched to a cause that really matters. 1% for the Planet gave me the framework and community to make that kind of partnership possible."
- It helps attract, land and retain clients.
1% for the Planet certification is a signal of credibility and differentiation for agencies, firms and consultants in our network. When featured in a company’s client proposals and communications channels, it’s an effective lever for winning and keeping contracts.
Erika Rodriguez is founder & CEO of Nadi Marketing, a San Diego-based agency that’s been a member since 2021. She's integrated her certification into client touchpoints and seen measurable wins as a result.
“In the professional and business services industry, 1% for the Planet membership is a powerful tool for building trust because it proves your environmental commitment is third-party verified, not just a marketing pitch,” she says. “In addition to displaying the logo on our homepage, we include it directly in our client proposals and on a dedicated impact page, mapping out exactly which environmental partners benefit from our giving. We also share our certified milestones publicly every year—like our recent $35,976 lifetime giving announcement detailing our exact in-kind, monetary and volunteer breakdown. This level of transparency gives prospective clients total confidence that partnering with Nadi Marketing means they are actively investing in regional climate solutions.”
- Being a part of the 1% for the Planet network creates new client opportunities.
Membership unlocks access to a global network of values-aligned businesses, creating opportunities for connection, collaboration and growth. For many professional services members, this translates into warm leads, mission-aligned clients and partnerships that reinforce both business development and brand credibility.
“It is a great way to attract new business through being in the community,” says HigherRing CEO Michelle Hirons. “Our target brands are brands that care about the environment and about sustainable communities.”
- They understand the importance of impact storytelling.
The concentration of marketing, communications and creative professionals in our network is no coincidence. These are experts in reputation management. Storytelling strategists. Whizzes in positioning and branding. In other words, people who really get the power of credible, clear storytelling around their impact.
They also understand the stakes. According to a 2025 Bain & Company survey of more than 750 global B2B customers, half already buy more from their most sustainable suppliers, and nearly 70% plan to accelerate those purchases over the next three years.
But claims that aren’t backed by third-party certification stand to erode this trust with consumers. Professional services brands choose 1% for the Planet as their accountability partner because our certification differentiates them in a crowded market and builds instant trust in an era of peak greenwashing skepticism.
Curious to learn more about how 1% for the Planet membership can benefit your B2B business? Get in touch with us here.
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