SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is proud to support purpose-driven businesses like BLK & Bold, a US specialty coffee roaster, in strengthening its environmental strategies and advancing overall sustainability performance. 

Founded in 2018 by childhood friends Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson, BLK & Bold has grown into the largest independently owned, purpose-driven coffee brand in the US. With the goal of recertifying under the newly released B Corp standards, the company recognized that achieving this vision required greater control over its environmental footprint. 

This challenge is not unique to coffee. Climate action, ESG performance and regulatory compliance are now critical priorities across all sectors. From manufacturing to finance, food to retail, organizations face growing pressure from regulators, investors and consumers to demonstrate transparent, measurable progress. 

Working with SGS, BLK & Bold gained the expertise, tools and confidence to accelerate its sustainability journey. The SGS solution set included: 

• A structured roadmap for measuring and managing carbon emissions

• Training on best practices in carbon accounting

• Support in collecting and verifying data across the supply chain

• Identification of key materials and emissions categories to focus reduction efforts and minimize environmental impact

Although initially concerned about the complexity of supplier data collection, with SGS’s guidance, BLK & Bold discovered that much of the information it needed already existed. Unlocking and verifying this data has allowed the company to identify leverage points for improvements across the value chain, supporting sustainable growth.

Reflecting on the process, Rod Johnson, CVO of BLK & Bold, emphasized the benefits: “It’s been hugely beneficial for us to go through this process. We learned a lot, and I would encourage other businesses to do the same. You don’t have to be afraid of the results. Having this knowledge equips you to make better decisions that benefit your business, your stakeholders and the environment at large.”

Adam Hammes, VP of Sustainability Assurance at SGS, added: “BLK & Bold’s commitment to purpose and progress is inspiring. They are proving that businesses of any size or industry can turn sustainability challenges into actionable data and measurable improvements. SGS is proud to support them in making that vision a reality.”

For more than 30 years, SGS has helped organizations worldwide meet and exceed their sustainability ambitions. With unmatched cross-industry expertise, SGS turns commitments into credible, measurable outcomes.

In 2024 and 2025, TIME Magazine and Statista recognized SGS as one of the world’s most sustainable companies. Explaining the decision to work with SGS, BLK & Bold CEO Pernell Cezar stated: “It was appealing to us that SGS not only helps organizations achieve their sustainability objectives but really walks the talk in terms of being sustainable in its own operations.”