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B Lab honors the top Certified B Corporations on its Best for the World list. These organizations are among the top 10 percent of certified companies that work for social and environmental change along with their business missions.

Christine Kapperman, Senior Content Director

April 17, 2013

2 Min Read
Natural companies do 'Best for the World'

Natural and organic companies make a difference every day, but some have the distinct honor of making the Best for the World list released today by B Lab, the nonprofit, third-party Certified B Corporation manager.

Those that scored among the top 10 percent of B Lab’s B Impact Assessment include:

  • W.S. Badger Co., maker of certified organic body care products based in Gilsum, N.H.

  • Pacific Northwest Kale Chips of Portland, Ore.

  • Alter Eco, a diverse food brand that focuses on fair trade, sustainable and organic products based in San Francisco.

  • Grounds for Change, a coffee roaster located in Poulsbo, Wash.     

  • Andean Naturals, a Foster City, Calif.-based quinoa supplier.

  • Farmland LP, a San Francisco-based group that acquires conventional farmland for conversion to sustainable, organically managed land.

B Corps, also known as benefit corporations, address social responsibility in addition to shareholder or business benefit. Certified B Corporations go through a thorough B Lab review of a company’s social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency to gain the nonprofit’s certification.

“A company’s revenue only tells half the story,” co-founder Jay Coen Gilbert said via press release. “Today’s most successful businesses must also create a positive social and environmental impact.”

The nonprofit recognized 67 top scorers of the 737 certified companies. The seal, which seemed to blossom at Natural Products Expo West this year, marks between 50 and 75 organic food, supplement and personal care companies, according to B Lab’s Katie Kerr.

For certification, a company must attain an 80 out of 200 points. Certified B Corporations average 97.

Below, find out how the top certified natural companies scored and a bit about their social and environmental commitment. Click the link to read the company’s complete B Lab profile

Badger: 122

Pays a living wage, donates 10 percent of profits to charity, produces mostly 100 percent organic products and conserves energy through efficient equipment.

Pacific Northwest Kale Chips: 125

Pays living wages to staff and fair prices to farmers, commits to consumer transparency and donates 10 percent of profits to charity.

Alter Eco: 129

Policies promote recruitment of women/minority owned suppliers, sources more than 25 percent of energy from renewable resources, covers 100 percent of employee health insurance costs.

Grounds for Change: 124

Requires specific social/environmental criteria from suppliers and visits them, uses 100 percent renewable energy at corporate facilities, participates in 1% for the Planet.

Andean Naturals: 126

Uses 100 percent recycled, biodegradable or environmentally preferred materials for packagings, notes that more than 30 percent of its significant suppliers are owned by women or ethnic minorities.

Farmland LP: 151

Uses low-volume irrigation, harvested rainwater, and non-toxic janitorial products, notes that more than 60 percent of its suppliers are independent and local and donates more than 50 percent of its profits to charity.

See all of the Best for the World companies here.

About the Author(s)

Christine Kapperman

Senior Content Director, New Hope Network

As the senior content director at New Hope Network, Christine Kapperman combines her 20-year journalism background with her passion for business to cover the natural products industry for newhope.com and Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine. She also led content at worldteanews.com. She loves tracking (and tasting) trends as she shares what’s next to show up in cups, plates and in pantries across the United States.

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