All hail Certified B Corps

Image source: Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash; medal by Sunish from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)

I’ve noticed lately that more brands are touting a “Certified B Corp” status, and while I knew that designation was a good thing, I didn’t really know what it meant. Turns out, it’s kind of a big deal. Basically, it means a for-profit business meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. Factors include employee benefits, charitable giving, supply chain practices, and sustainability. These companies take a holistic approach that helps to counter the issues inherent with capitalism, aiming to create a global economy that benefits all people, communities, and the planet. In other words, these companies have souls and aren’t focused only on profit. They say “please” and “thank you,” clean up after themselves, and leave the place a little bit nicer than they found it. So yeah, it’s a very, very good thing! Vote with your dollars and support Certified B Corps.

• Certification is granted by B Lab, a non-profit network with a mission to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet

• Certification lasts for three years

• There are over 7100 Certified B Corps in more than 90 countries and 160 industries (as of July 2023)

To learn more, visit B Lab.