Going Public, Sustainably: Build Sustainability Into an IPO

One of the biggest milestones in a company’s journey is the day it goes public. It is a unique opportunity for a company to reflect upon—and declare to the world—where it has been and more importantly, where it is headed. It is a time for a company to hone in on its larger purpose—including its impact on the environment and people.

In the summer of 2021, the global lifestyle brand Allbirds partnered with BSR to form an Advisory Council of ESG professionals to envision a way for soon-to-IPO companies to declare their commitment to ESG principles. What emerged was the Sustainability Principles and Objectives (SPO) Framework, a set of criteria that late-stage private companies can use to demonstrate both their strong commitment to ESG, as well as ESG goals that are to be reached within 24 months of IPO.

This convening will bring together high-growth companies, venture capital, and private equity firms to:

• Introduce the SPO Framework more in-depth, specifically topics around climate, human rights, and governance
• Hear from the Allbirds leadership team on how it built sustainability into the core of its IPO
• Explore how companies and investors can work together to integrate ESG principles and values into companies that will or have recently gone public