If you’ve been following along for a while here, you’ve heard us talk about being a B Corporation. The #BCorps movement is led by a community of businesses that value people and the planet, not just profits. We’re all working together to use business as a force for good.
A few months ago, we fired up a new feature, Force for Good Fridays, to share the B Corps that inspire us. With the emergence of COVID-19, the impact of how consumers choose to support businesses has been a central theme of conversation. If you’re looking to stimulate the economy and align with businesses doing good in the world, here are a few favorite brands to get you started.
King Arthur Flour
Not only is King Arthur Flour America’s oldest flour company (they’ve been in operation for more than TWO CENTURIES), they’re also a founding B Corp member. Much of the brand’s success has been attributed to the fact that the company is 100% percent employee-owned, giving each employee a real stake in the company’s success. In addition, direct relationships between the employees and products enables King Arthur Flour to be the reference for bakers and consumers across the country. From being named one of the Wall Street Journal’s “Top Small Workplaces” to being honored as a B Corp “Best for Workers” every year since 2014, there’s no doubt King Arthur Flour rules.
Keap
Meet a brand lighting the way as a B Corp. Keap makes candles that incorporate great scents, clean design and use the purest, most sustainable materials possible. Their packaging is also 100% plastic-free. You can even return your used candles to them for re-use. Bonus: each candle purchased supports the distribution of solar lamps to communities in need. (No wonder they were named Best for Community in both 2018 and 2019.)
Rescue Chocolate
Dogs and chocolate don’t usually mix, but in the case of Rescue Chocolate…it’s a perfect pairing. Rescue Chocolate has helped hundreds of non-profit animal welfare groups to raise thousands of dollars for their lifesaving work. While their handcrafted vegan, kosher chocolates are only for humans to enjoy, all profits are donated to animal rescue organizations. Approximately 4 million healthy dogs and cats are killed in American animal control facilities every year, because permanent homes cannot be found for them. Rescue Chocolate and its animal rescue partner organizations aim to bring that number down to zero through education, spay and neuter programs, special adoption events, and other humane initiatives. Rescue Chocolate has been named a B Corp “Best for Community” every year since 2015, and also received the designation of “Best for Overall” in 2019.
Diva Cup
As makers of the menstrual cup that has been revolutionizing the period game since 2003, The Diva Cup redefines what menstruation means through comfort, health and sustainability in mind. The brand is a women-owned and led company with a commitment to “creating a future where everyone has the information, confidence, and ability to access safe, innovative solutions for menstruation.” Diva is also committed to improving lives through education, advocacy and access. In addition to providing menstrual health education and resources to reduce stigma and establish menstrual equity as a societal norm, the brand advocates for legislative change and an end to period poverty by lowering the barriers to accessing menstrual care products through our donations program. That’s good work. Period.
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Thirty-five years ago, Lake Champlain Chocolates was born out of a dare to do better. As a pioneer in the American chocolate movement, they have always strived to create the best-tasting chocolates imaginable. This means sourcing only the highest-quality fresh, local ingredients and never using preservatives or artificial flavors. Today, their pursuit of the extraordinary continues. The brand is committed not only to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world by supporting cacao-growing communities and using 100% fair-trade chocolate, reducing toxins in the environment by sourcing organic ingredients, whenever possible. In 2018, Lake Champlain Chocolates joined the ranks of fellow Vermont B Corps including: Vermont Creamery, Seventh Generation, Ben & Jerry’s, and King Arthur Flour.
KeepCup
Coffee, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways. Disposable coffee cups? Not so much. (Thankfully, that’s where KeepCup comes in.) When Jamie and Abigail Forsyth started a café business in 1998, disposable cups were entering the public landscape. As the business grew, so did their concerns about the volume of packaging being consumed, particularly disposable, non-recyclable cups. In 2007, they decided to create a barista standard reusable cup for people to enjoy better coffee on the go. They doubled down on the theory that usability, sustainable manufacturing practice and design aesthetics could drive behavior change and make a difference to how people think about convenience culture. And they were right. Not surprisingly, this B Corp has since been named a 2018 and 2019 “Best for Environment” business. They even partner with other orgs doing important work in the world. For example, 40% of every Sea Shepherd KeepCup sold is donated in support of the environment, biodiversity and ocean conservation. So there you have it. A coffee companion that looks good and does good. We can all raise a KeepCup to that!
The Good Pencil Company
The Good Pencil Company was started with mission to provide an excellent writing tool that helps those who are less fortunate. Teachers with a genuine love for their students are paying for school supplies out of their own pockets, and this shouldn’t be the case. When someone buys a pencil from The Good Pencil Company the brand donates a pencil to a school in need. In addition to their 1:1 give-back program. The Good Pencil Company also offers educational support to low-income demographics and supports programs that benefit the environment. What else can we say, but write on…
Eco-Bags
Despite the conventional wisdom of Aqua’s 90’s pop hit “Barbie Girl,” it turns out life in plastic is NOT fantastic. That’s where Eco-Bags comes in. One of the first brands to introduce reusable bags to the market in 1992, Eco-Bags is a woman-owned B Corp with a history of creating durable, sustainably sourced and responsibly made bags using natural, recycled, organic and recyclable materials for retail, resale, promotions, packaging and design. Eco-bags uses third parties to certify that their supply chain and manufacturing meet or exceed international standards for materials and social conduct. All of the inks used in their custom printing are PVC and phthalate-free, their dyes are AZO free. (They also encourage all of their partnering manufacturers to comply with their high standards.) Now THAT is a fantastic business model. (And we think even Barbie would agree.)
SoapBox Soaps
Dreamt up in an apartment near American University, founder David Simnick believed he could empower people to change the world through everyday purchases with his company and fellow B Corporation, SoapBox Soaps.
He was onto something. Now, just nine years later, Soapbox is distributed in retailers nationwide and has donated over 2.9 MILLION bars to those in need. How does it work? With every individual item purchase made, the company donates a bar made of recycled hotel soaps that are shaved, sanitized, and reformed. These soaps then travel to someone in need, both state-side and abroad.
What’s more, each package YOU purchase is equipped with a “HOPE CODE” which allows you to track exactly where and how your spend has made a direct impact on someone’s life. We love this so much that every sink in our office is accompanied by a Soapbox Product. Soap = Hope.
This is part I of a two-part series. Read part II here.
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It should be noted that these are just a handful of the thousands of B Corporations that exist — and more are joining the movement every day. We’ll be sharing another round next week.
Interested in supporting a B Corp? Search the directory here.
Interested in becoming a B Corp? Start your journey here.
