We recently published a blog post outlining The Tangible Benefits of Becoming a Benefit Corporation, and wanted to follow up with the reasons why we went through the certification process here at Fairware. Reflecting on that, we also thought it would be fun to reach out to fellow B Corps who have been recently certified to gain insight on why others are striving to meet the B Corp certification standards. Read on to get inspired!
First, what is a B Corp?
Certified B Corps are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
FAIRWARE
At Fairware, we were attracted to the B Corp framework for several reasons.
Being a B Corp Supports a Global Effort to Leverage Business to Do Good
First and foremost, we were attracted to the signal we sent to employees, suppliers, and clients by intentionally changing our incorporation documents and shareholder agreement to include principles of corporate social responsibility. Structuring our corporate documents to ensure our commitment to sustainable business practices felt like an act of corporate advocacy to send a signal to the world that there is a better way to run a corporation.
B Corp Provides a Roadmap for Improving Sustainability Performance
The B Corp rating system and questionnaire process is a great roadmap for sustainable business best practices. As busy entrepreneurs who lack a full-blown sustainability department, the B Corp Assessment serves as a framework for assessing our own performance in key areas of corporate social responsibility. Using the B Corp Assessment gives us confidence that we’re measuring ourselves against best practices and saves us the effort required to research and develop our own standards. The B Corp Assessments serves to highlight gaps in our performance, identifies what we need to work on, and offers up examples of programs or policies we could consider improving in that impact area.
Our B Corp Certification Shows Our Clients, Suppliers, and Employees That We’re The Real Deal
Sustainable business, eco-products and ethical sourcing aren’t fads to us. We believe we can use our business to drive real change towards social and environmental responsibility. Our B Corp status serves to send a signal to our customers, vendors, and peers that we’re committed to a business model that reflects our community and environmental priorities. In an increasingly crowded space of ‘green’ or ethical companies, it provides us with a third-party certification that we are walking the talk.
THE GOOD PENCIL COMPANY
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
The Good Pencil Company’s founder, John-Erik, has wanted to help people his whole life, inspired by his father to do more for those around us. After his father passed away, he and his mother decided to start a non-profit to provide ipads to kids who couldn’t afford them. While this was fulfilling, they found it challenging to raise the money to make it all work. This helped spark the idea to have a company that could help people rather than a non-profit, and The Good Pencil Company was born. Naturally, becoming a B Corp was a great fit – it’s always been in his DNA and it’s part of the company’s mission and values to help people.
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
John-Erik’s father was the inspiration, from an early age he wanted his kids to know that they could help people no matter who they were, where they came from, or what they looked like. Also, it’s the climate of today. He thinks there’s a better way to do business than the bottom line.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
They’ve now donated over 8,300 pencils. They started this company with the mission to help teachers. In the USA, teachers have to pay for their own school supplies and recent changes made them unable to write off those supplies in their taxes. They believe that’s not how it should be and they wanted to help change that. Environmentally, they plant trees to offset the killing of the trees that are needed to make their pencils; they’re FSC certified, made in the USA, and they use 100% recyclable packaging OR not packaging at al where possible. They have strong community engagement, such as art classes for kids from low income families. And they’re doing all of this within a price point that’s competitive.
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
They like to think of Cotopaxi as their big sister. They’ve led the way and their founder helped to bring B Corps to Utah as a founding style for companies. But they also really admire Patagonia. He’s inspired that they don’t want to sell you a new shirt every year – they want their goods to last.
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
They want people to know about them to allow them to do more in their community. John-Erik gave a speech at a conference about his company and he had a response from a man afterward who said that he was wasting his time; there were already programs in place to help these people. John-Erik feels like there are still problems in today’s world and he wants to help by doing what he can to contribute. Some schools are using books that are so outdated that they’re not even accurate. There are problems and there are opportunities for all of us to help. All our communities can solve problems above and beyond what the government can do. We can use cash registers as our ballot boxes.
RHIZA CAPITAL
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
Two reasons: integrity and community. The rigorous certification process highlights the leaders over the imitators, which is important for an impact business. We’re an impact investment firm, so it’s crucial that we show our investors proof that we have the environmental, social, and governance accountability we say we do. Second, the community is tremendously important. Rhiza Capital supports impact businesses in our portfolio, partnerships, and procurement. There’s a built in trust and familiarity that exists between B Corps because you know their values are aligned.
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
We’re in a climate emergency; an extinction epidemic. It’s absolutely critical that business and finance radically change to account for all stakeholders — especially the planet. Certifying as a B Corp alone doesn’t solve the problem, but the ‘business as a force for good‘ movement is an important part.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
Seeing the companies we invest in grow. Each company in the Rhiza portfolio has an important product that moves the needle for a more sustainable, equitable, resilient economy. We have the privilege to support incredible, dedicated entrepreneurs and we’re very proud of the work they do.
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
Persephone Brewing. Though we’re biased. Also… beer.
And SPUD.ca because of their waste reduction achievements and their long-time support of local food producers. SPUD has the potential to change large, international grocery chains which will have a huge impact.
(Brian Smith is also the co-founder of Persephone Beer Farm)
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
That we all have the ability and responsibility to align our money with our values — the same way you do when you work for a B Corp or buy from a B Corp. Money and investments are just as important in terms of social and environmental impact.
MOBSQUAD
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
MobSquad became a B Corp recently, but it has been a goal of theirs to become one since the company was founded. It was always their goal as the certification helps to signal company values and ensure the high standards set by being a B Corp are upheld
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
MobSquad’s values are centered around diversity, high standards, integrity in the way they work, and contributing back to their community. They saw a lot of overlap between the B Corp qualifiers and what their values are so it seemed like a great fit. The certification resonates with their executive team personally and the company throughout.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
Their team is diverse demographically in terms of race, age and gender. They believe this generates good diversity of opinion and thought, leading to stronger outcomes for the company. They really want to promote that diversity is a strength and not a hinderance
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
Patagonia. They stand by their beliefs and are part of quite a few organizations that inspire MobSquad like B Corp and 1 % For The Planet. Their leadership team really agrees with the values of the Benefit Corporation and they built a company that’s accountable and helps the environment. They really live their values
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
MobSquad wants more people to understand what B Corps are and what they stand for. There’s a lot of value in participating in the all of the steps required to certify. Some steps may be intrinsic, but others may have to be worked for. The community is overwhelmingly supportive in their efforts to help each other out.
PISCATAQUA SAVINGS BANK
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
Piscataqua Savings Bank is a mutual savings bank, (no shareholders, just stakeholders), and we share the same values of community, customers, staff and environment as a B Corporation. The B Corporation is easier for the public to understand than mutuality so will be an easier conversation with potential customers and employees.
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
Maintaining our certification will keep the Board’s and management’s feet to the fire to assure that we always strive to do better.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
The impact that we have on our community, not just with financial contributions, but with other initiatives that support those in need.
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
Piscataqua Savings Bank
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
Our rich history of serving families in the Seacoast area of NH since 1877.
SURECALL
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
I truly believe that corporations must be involved if we are to make an impact on the critical challenges that our world faces. In 2016 SureCall pivoted to become a purpose driven organization. We developed our GoodCall™ program taking a percentage of our top line revenue and supporting local, international, and global causes. In 2018 after becoming an Advanced Leader at Harvard University I launched Hero Girls™, a global initiative to educate females in underserved and developing communities to raise the prosperity of the entire community.
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
While at Harvard I was inspired by hearing Andrew Kassoy (one of the B Lab founders) speak about B Lab at the Social Enterprise conference. When returned to Calgary, I immediately looked into becoming a B Corp. This made sense for all the things we had already implemented, and wanted to do in order to use our business as a force for good.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
I am most proud of my team. We are not a large corporation, but we are doing big things. It individually takes commitment and true belief in what you are doing, to get an entire organization behind it. It’s a great feeling to know that culturally we are doing more than just running a company and helping clients, we are impacting the world. My team demonstrates that in everything they do, and have embraced making a difference, as part of their job responsibilities.
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
My favourite B Corp is an enterprise called Dolium, they are winery in Mendoza, Argentina. I love them because it’s not easy to be a B Corp, and more so in the wine industry. They have done an incredible job of everything from their sustainable facilities, to how they make their wine responsibly, and how they treat their employees.
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
If everyone knew more about how conscious capitalism has a layered impact and ripple effect that creates a more robust and sustainable company; and that a bigger purpose actually helps drive employee engagement and customer loyalty; then more enterprises would focus on being part of that change. If all of us do this, the magnitude of the results and positive outcomes would alter our world.
HAINT BLUE
What’s the main reason you became a B Corp?
Truth be told, when I got asked to jump on with Haint Blue just over two years ago now, I had never heard of a B Corp before. One of the first tasks I was set to do from my boss/Haint Blue’s Founder, Keith Sherrill, was to pick-up the B Corp pre-assessment that he had already begun. At that point in time, we were trying to get Haint Blue off the ground as a start-up, and it wouldn’t be until November of this past year that we would actually open the doors to our taproom. So, for us, B Corp was a way to intentionally design every aspect of the company – from how employees were treated to our recycling program we run (for free) in the neighbourhood our brewery calls home. But, one of the aspects I appreciate the most, is that as we further progressed and became closer to gaining full certification, I became more aware of the wide variety of reasons why becoming a B Corp is so beneficial for a company – such as the immediate connection we can now make with other people also seeking to use “business as a force for good” & the ability we have to clearly display the B Corp logo to anyone as a sign that we’re striving to be more than just a beer company.
What inspired you to become a B Corp?
The hope of becoming a better & more intentional company by being held accountable by others who actively seek to help you do so.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your company?
That Matt Wheeler – our head brewer, can design & craft incredible beers, but that our IPAs & Pale Ales are just a portion of the impact we are striving to make on our community & industry.
Who’s your favourite B Corp?
Oh man, that’s a tough one! Absolutely Patagonia – because I love the outdoors & knowing that each purchase I make supports a company who does too. I also think Brewery Vivant is pretty incredible with how transparent they are with their Sustainability Reports. I actually had a chance to visit them last year, & everyone who worked there was just awesome & truly seemed to be living out the B Corp purpose. Oh…& they make insanely good beer too.
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about?
I wish everyone knew about the significant impact B Corp is making throughout a vast & diverse amount of industries & the effect that certification can make for one business.
