We’ve got big challenges to face and we need to call upon big business to step up and be part of the solution. Enter B Corp certification. B Corps are for-profit businesses that volunteer to be graded by the nonprofit B Lab each year to ensure they’re meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, plus have their scores published for us all to see.
At Sustainable Travel & Living, we actively seek B Corp brands to offer you under our ‘Responsible Brands’ attribute, part of how we deem a product choice sustainable.
OK, it’s a real way to avoid greenwashing… so who’s on board?
B Corp started in 2006 and today there are 3,275 B Corp companies across 71 countries, 150 industries and growing. There are big names on board like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Athleta, Eileen Fisher, Warby Parker, Allbirds and more.
It’s a ‘A’ for effort to become a B Corp:
As the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance, to become a B Corp you must:
- Undergo a rigorous, 200-question B Impact Assessment (BIA) measuring your company’s impact on its workers, customers, community, and environment and achieve a minimum score of 80
- Complete a Disclosure Questionnaire and any additional background checks
- Make your B Impact Report transparent on www.bcorporation.net
- Amend your legal governing documents to require the board of directors to balance profit and purpose
- Sign your B Corp Agreement, which commits you to meeting the legal requirements above
- Be subject to an on-site Site Review during and update your BIA for each three-year Certification term
Every day is election day. Vote B Corp.
At Sustainable Travel & Living, we agree with B Corp that you cast your vote every day with the choices you make—what you buy, where you work and who you do business with. You have the power to make your voice heard beyond the ballot box. We hope to work towards our own B Corp certification when we’re old enough!
Here are five of OUR B Corp brands and their top-selling gear:
Tentree
An outdoor brand that uses 95% sustainable materials, they also plant 10 trees for every product you buy with 35 million new trees planted an counting. We love the functional Denim Waves Daily Tote and Juniper Backpack and Juniper wallet made from REPREVE recycled water bottle and BLOOM algae foam fabrics.
MPOWERED
The NYC-based company offers innovative products that help make clean energy accessible, like our popular Luci inflatable, solar powered light with mobile charging and Luci solar powered string lights.
Bee’s Wrap
Vermont-made Bee’s Wrap has biodegradable, plastic-free food storage options, like the 3-Pack Honeycomb Wrap Set and Sandwich Wrap, made with organic cotton and wax from sustainably-managed hives in the US.
U-Konserve
This brand has long been creating products to help people live a zero-waste lifestyle, like our Set of 3 Mini Stainless Steel Containers, Happy Earth Happy Hour Kit and Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jar.
All Good
A nature-based healing company, All Good offers certified organic products like the Healing Goop, Herbal Arnica Freeze and Hand Sanitizer and sunscreens in recycled plastic and glass bottles.
B Corps are making huge, public commitments we should stand behind. They’re among the most impressive companies treating “good business” as the way forward to combine profit and purpose. So look out for the logo (left). To learn more or look up B Corp companies, visit https://bcorporation.net/.