MEET THE WOMEN IN SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPIONING EQUALITY

The pandemic has underlined two pre-existing plagues: unsustainable business and social inequality. During the current recession, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more likely to be cut than those held by men. That means that the gender pay gap, which measures the average difference between hourly wages for men and women, is about to get even bigger.

In the UK, the latest gender pay gap median figure is 11.5%. Last year this the 20th November 2020 was the last day the average British woman is paid for her work for the rest of the year - the figures for 2021 are yet to be released. Known as Equal Pay Day, this measure highlights how far we have to go to close the gender pay gap, which is even worse for mothers, minorities and older women.

But it’s not all gloom and doom. Equal Pay Day also provides an opportunity to come together as a community and share our knowledge, compassion and advice. Below, we tell the stories of twelve women, all running environmental or social impact businesses part of The Do-Gooders community, all striving for a more sustainable, more equal world. This is our witness statement for what the British government can do to guide businesses and what businesses can do to support women.

To make your voice heard, please consider signing the petitions to stop pay discrimination in the UK and to prevent an all-male British team being sent to the UN climate summit in November 2021.