B the Change

I am big fan of the B Corporation Certification. B Corp’s best practices approach must meet rigorous social and environmental standards for performance, accountability and transparency. “They are to business what Fair Trade is to coffee or USDA Organic is to milk”.

By voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance, Certified B Corps are distinguishing themselves in a cluttered marketplace by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.

The B Corp focus is on the entire spectrum of what a business can mean to a community, city, state, country…world. They promote higher quality jobs and elevate quality of life – environmentally, socially and economically. As the movement grows, it has become an increasingly powerful agent of change by passing laws and driving capital.

Certified B Corp business members are 68% more likely to donate at least 10% of profits to charity, 47% more likely to use on-site, renewable energy, 18% more likely to use suppliers from low-income communities.

B Corp believes that “Business, the most powerful man-made force on the planet, must create value for society, not just shareholders”. The B Corp philosophy is to create market-based, scalable solutions for systemic problems.

The B Corp certification organization is over 1,000 global business members strong. B Corp companies include; Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, Warby Parker, Cabot Creamery, and Etsy – to name just a few.

The mantra is to compete not just to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.

I will most certainly vote B Corp with my dollars!