When a business makes a misstep, what matters most is how they respond.
Earlier this week, we called out Brisbane-based bakery Veganyumm for selling sugar cookies decorated with messages like “Choke Me”, “F*ck Me”*, and “Gag Me” - slogans that trivialise sexual violence and reinforce the mainstreaming of porn culture.
Within minutes, the bakery deleted its promotional post. But more importantly, after reflecting on the concerns raised, they took it a step further: they pulled the entire product range and committed to doing better.
This is corporate social responsibility in action.
A Business Willing to Listen and Learn
After a conversation with our Movement Director Melinda Tankard Reist, the owner of Veganyumm acknowledged the harm in these messages and made a clear commitment:
“After reflecting on the matter and learning from this experience, we’ve decided not to offer these particular toppers next year. We take full ownership… This decision comes from a place of being open to education and wanting to better understand the deeper implications behind such messages and how they feed into a bigger picture.”
But their response didn’t stop there. The business has now signed our Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge, demonstrating their commitment to ethical, responsible business practices.
Incorporating Ethics into Company Values
As a woman-run business, Veganyumm has also taken this as an opportunity to reassess how their values are communicated both internally and externally. They have committed to embedding our CSR statement of intention into their company ethos, ensuring that respect for women and girls is reflected in their branding and business decisions.
This is the kind of leadership we need to see in the corporate world. Owning mistakes, learning from them, and taking tangible steps towards change.
A Model for Other Businesses to Follow
Veganyumm’s response is a powerful example of how businesses can step up and take responsibility. The culture we live in has been so infiltrated by porn messaging that these slogans were initially seen as just another marketing gimmick. But once the harm was pointed out, this business chose to listen, reflect, and take action.
We commend Veganyumm for their willingness to learn and their commitment to ethical business practices. They now stand as a model for other companies - demonstrating that corporate social responsibility isn’t just a buzzword, but a real, actionable commitment to respecting women and girls.
We Don’t Just Call Out—We Celebrate Ethical Businesses
We don’t just expose companies that profit from the exploitation of women and girls - we amplify and celebrate businesses that choose to do the right thing. Veganyumm now joins a growing list of companies that have pledged to uphold the dignity of women and girls in their advertising, products, and services.
We want our supporters to know which businesses align with their values - brands that reject harmful messages and actively contribute to a culture that respects and values women and girls.
If you’re a business owner, we invite you to join our Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge and stand alongside other ethical brands leading the way.
Be part of the solution. Show your customers that you stand for integrity, respect, and a world free from sexploitation. Sign the pledge today!
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