Sustainability made
with Purpose
Our business is purpose-led and values-driven.
Vision
SMEs thriving in a sustainable and regenerative economy
Mission
To empower and support SMEs in their transition to a sustainable and regenerative economy
Purpose
To prove, at scale and with data, that prioritising people and the planet drives business success
Our values
Prioritise Integrity
In the face of trade-offs, we strive for what’s right over what looks easy.
We know this will pay-off in the long run.
Keep it Fun
We believe it can be light-hearted and fun to do the right thing.
We focus on the positive, so we can all enjoy the journey.
Empower & Include
Sustainability is for everyone.
We focus on delivering a simple, practical, and affordable approach that leaves the judgement behind.
Stay Bold, Stay Humble
We aim high and want to change the world for the better.
We're also aware that we will never be perfect. But that won’t stop us from trying.
Our founders
Guido Toepfer
Founder & CEO
International entrepreneur, advisor and investor focussed on empowering business to drive the sustainability transformation of our global economy.
Dr Jill Rathborne
Founder & CTO/CPO
Algorithm and data expert with a background in Astrophysics, recent start-up experience in social inclusion and building Al-driven platforms.
Renate Crollini
Founder & CSO
Sustainability professional, with environmental engineering and project management experience in the private and NFP sectors.
Kate Bennett
Founder & Non-Executive Director
Entrepreneur and strategist with experience leading sustainability transformation in business as consultant and senior executive.
Our advisors
Sara Redmond-Neal
Advisor, Sustainability and SMEs
Sustainability expert focused on SMEs and embedding sustainability goals into their business strategy and supply chain through practical advice, educational resources and digital tools.
Dr Geoff Kendall
Advisor, Sustainability Frameworks
Founding member of the Future-Fit Foundation and lead author of the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, the only open source, science-based and holistic methodology designed to drive rapid and radical change in pursuit of a better world.
Emily Burns
Advisor, Product & UX/UI
Product management professional with experience in fast paced, high growth startups, with a focus on executing and delivering innovative products at scale that solve genuine customer problems.
Lorenn Ruster
Advisor, Responsible AI
PhD candidate at ANU's College of Engineering, Computer Science and Cybernetics in responsible, safe, and sustainable Al development. Working with entrepreneurs through research cooperations around responsible AI and business practices.
Our unique approach
Driven by Purpose
SMEs are the backbone of our society.
We’re dedicated to empowering them to thrive in a sustainable economy.
Built on Experience
We’ve successfully built and grown businesses by embracing sustainability.
Our proven approach shows that it works.
Grounded in Science
We're aligned with global, science-based sustainability frameworks.
No need to learn them - we'll handle the complexities for you.
Focused on Action
We prioritise action over reporting.
We'll ensure you have meaningful and positive results to share.
Broader than Carbon
We cover all 17 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
So you have the perfect mix of actions, for people, planet, and your profit.
Improving with You
Sustainability is a journey, and we're here to learn, grow, and improve with you.
No matter where you are on your path, we'll support you every step of the way.
Brownee operates a SaaS subscription-based business model.
No.
We do not take any commission from businesses that offer their services, products, or solutions on the platform.
Brownee is on team SME. And for that reason, we will not take commisions from businesses that sell to our SMEs.
This is really important to us and allows us to maintain our integrity. Because of this approach, you can have absolute confidence that the recommendations we provide to you are the ones most suitable for your needs, not for our bank balance.We sure do!
Brownee is grounded in scientific and globally accepted ESG frameworks. Our proprietary scoring system leverages the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, adapted with our expert knowledge, and secret sauce!The Future-Fit Business Benchmark is a methodology to help business build a better world. Systems science tells us how our economy must be transformed if we are to meet everyone's needs and live in harmony with nature.
The Future Fit Business Benchmark has translated that science into tangible principles, goals, indicators and guides to help any business play its part in getting us there.The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.
They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth - all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.Materiality in ESG refers to the business importance, financial significance, and stakeholder value of a specific ESG topic.
Materiality helps you identify and focus on the ESG issues that matter most to your business performance and stakeholder expectations.
Focus areas are the areas that we have identified in which your business may impact people and the planet. As well as those that are important for your financial success!
We use these to help guide you on which areas you should focus on first.We use the internationally recognised and science-based Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) and Future-Fit Business Benchmark (FFBB), as well as drawing from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Your Brownee ESG scores show your business’ progress toward minimising its negative impacts on the world. A higher score means you are closer to the goal of operating within planetary limits and social foundations, in harmony with natural and social systems.
Our scoring system is based on the internationally recognised and science-based Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) and Future-Fit Business Benchmark (FFBB), as well as drawing from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We’ll share more details about how individual scores are are calculated in the near future.Brownee points are the way we reward you for taking action.
We understand that sometimes before you can move the needle, you need to set solid foundations with a good plan to get you going. That’s where Brownee Points come in - we recognise your commitment and early steps.
Go ahead, you deserve a treat!When we say "sustainability" we mean all 17 of the UN's Sustainability Development Goals.
These goals recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.ESG focuses on specific environmental, social, and governance criteria important for your business performance and stakeholder expectations.
Sustainability is broader, aiming for long-term ecological balance and considering the overall impact on the planet and society.Because everyone craves a brownie, right?!
And, in fact, we think everybody really should crave sustainability in the same way.You should care, because your customers, staff, investors, partners do.
And if they do and you do, that will show in your top line and in your bottom line.
Sustainability is about your business success as much as about people and planet.
So you tell us, is it relevant?
Yes you can. And we'd love you to!
Our approach is simple and easy for you to learn about what ESG is, and how your business can get started. We'll be with you at each step of your journey, providing support and guidance along the way - no matter where you're starting from or what you're goals and ambitions are.Yes, we offer lots of actions, resources, and templates that you can implement yourself.
Many of these are simple, low-cost, and quick wins to get you going.
You bet!
Our recommendations for actions include vetted suppliers that can partner with you to do what we're suggesting. You can even search for a specific business or solution within your local area.Not if you don't want to.
We offer lots of actions, resources, and templates that don't require a third-party provider to implement. Many of these are simple, low-cost, and quick wins to get you going.