B Lab, a non-profit organization headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, has conferred “B Corp” certification – for transparency, sustainability and corporate responsibility – on Kathmandu. The company is purportedly one of the largest brands of outdoor apparel and gear to have met the criteria (Patagonia is another one) and the first one with headquarters in Australia or New Zealand. Katmandu was founded and is still based in Christchurch, New Zealand. B Corporations are assessed for their performance in five areas: governance, labor, customers, community and the environment. Kathmandu scored high in labor, environment and community. B Lab has certified more than 3,000 companies worldwide. About 300 of these are in the combined region of Australia and New Zealand. B Corp certification has no legislation behind it – unlike the “benefit corporation” status that is available in the U.S.