Certified B Corporation: 15 natural companies newly approved
Many companies talk about doing good things. B Lab measures the positive impact a company has on its workers, suppliers, community and environment.
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Certified: January 2021 Impact score: 91.5 Category highest score: Community–59.1 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/amodern-alchemy Location: Brooklyn, New York Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Supports the nonprofit One Tree Planted, which focuses on global reforestation. —Packages its product in recyclable violet miron jars and paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. —Uses small, local printers to support the local economy and reduce its carbon footprint. Product: A stress-relief and immune-support powdered supplement made of organic adaptogenic herbs, medicinal mushrooms and bioactive amino acids.
Certified: November 2020 Impact score: 81.1 Category highest score: Workers–31.9 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/butcher-box Location: Brighton, Massachusetts Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Works with processing plants whose methods are inspired by Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University and an advocate for humane treatment of livestock. —Employs fair labor practices and seeks partners who do the same. —Focuses on animal welfare, supporting farmers, respecting the planet and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Products: 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef; heritage-breed pork; free-range organic chicken; wild-caught seafood.
Certified: November 2020 Impact score: 97.5 Category highest score: Community–33.1 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/frank-eileen Location: Los Angeles, California Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Certified woman-owned business that has worked with ethical, sustainable manufacturers for more than 10 years. —Pledged $10 million to nurture and educate girls. —Partners with local artisans; creates jobs by having all products knit, sewn, washed and dyed locally; demands partners use fair labor practices. —Partners with local artisans; creates jobs by having all products knit, sewn, washed and dyed locally; demands partners use fair labor practices. Products: Women's clothing
Certified: December 2020 Impact score: 87.8 Category highest score: Community–35.0 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/harris-woolf-almonds Location: Coalinga, California Sector: Manufacturing The good it does: —Works with growers to use minimize water usage and waste, including re-using waste water for irrigation. —Maintains acreage to foster communities of bees and other insects. —Uses technology to reduce needed tractor time, which improves soil quality and offsets nearly 300,000 tons of carbon per year. Products: Natural raw almonds, roasted almonds, almond paste and butter; almond oil, almond protein power.
Certified: January 2021 Impact score: 82 Category highest score: Environment–25.6 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/k9-ballistics-inc Location: Camarillo, California Sector: Manufacturing The good it does: —Uses post-consumer recycled fibers in dog beds and crate pads, keeping plastic bottles out of landfills; uses 50% recycled paper in packaging; offers an upcycle program. —Ensures products are made in safe, fair, legal and human conditions throughout the supply chain. —Has changed landscaping, HVAC and lighting at its world headquarters to improve energy efficiency; installed skylights in the warehouse to save electricity and improve the work environment. —Offers paid time off for volunteer work, a wellness program and a continuing education program. Products: Chew proof pet bed, crate pads, orthopedic mattresses, blankets.
Certified: December 2020 Impact score: 83.1 Category highest score: Environment–31.7 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/kencko Location: Brooklyn, New York Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Uses fresh produce to create a shelf-stable product that helps people consume more fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. —Achieved carbon-neutral shipping in August 2020. —Uses plant-based, compostable packaging for single-serve smoothies. Products: A variety of flavored shakes mixes to which consumers add milk (including plant-based milk) or water.
Certified: December 2020 Impact score: 103.8 Category highest score: Environment–60.4 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/mc-carty-family-farms Location: Colby, Kansas Sector: Agriculture–Growers The good it does: —Uses technology and regenerative farming practices to preserve and improve the land and increase carbon sequestration. —Supports a healthy ecosystem by planting trees, creating pollinator habitats and maintaining bird, bug and bat boxes throughout its five farms. —Employs a conservation plan and water technology such as soil moisture probes to accurately measure water needs and use water efficiently. —Its milk condensing plant reclaims water from cow's milk to use for cleaning and crop irrigation. Products: Non-GMO Project Verified milk, cream and condensed milk that supplies Danone North America's non-GMO yogurt lines.
Certified: October 2020 Impact score: 81.5 Category highest score: Community–38.0 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/one-mighty-mill Location: Lynn, Massachusetts Sector: Manufacturing The good it does: —Partners with wheat farmers who follow regenerative practices to grow organic wheat and build healthier soil. —Commits to feeding underserved communities. —Creates career opportunities for all employees; employees become owners after one year with the company. Products: Bagels, breads, tortillas, pretzels, and fresh-milled flours.
Certified: November 2020 Impact score: 124.8 Category highest score: Community–67.0 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/paka Location: Troy, Virginia Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Sources alpaca wool from local farmers and uses natural dyes. Four sweaters can be made from one alpaca shearing, compared with one cashmere sweater being made with shearings from four goats. —All alpaca wool is Oeko-Tex certified to be free of harmful substances. —Teaches, for free, women to weave and provides a steady income so women have more independence. —Partners with Peru's Ministry of Vulnerable Populations to help women leave situations involving domestic violence and sexual abuse. Products: Hoodies, sweaters, hats, socks, jogging pants
Certified: December 2020 Impact score: 80.3 Category highest score: Community–23.1 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/patara-llc Location: San Diego, California Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —The company's dyed fabrics are Oeko-Tex Dye certified, meaning they are free from harmful chemicals. —Makes the bumpers on the shoes from natural hemp fiber, which is more durable than jute. —Makes the insoles of sunflower oil, soybean oil and recycled foam; lines them with natural cork. —Makes the outsoles with natural rubber from Thailand. Products: Lightweight, comfortable and eco-friendly footwear and splash bags.
Certified date: October 2020 Impact score: 81.7 Category highest score: Community–30.6 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/small-axe-peppers Location: Queens, New York Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Connects consumers with community gardens in cities across the country. In turn, the gardens and urban farms support the unique needs of their neighborhoods. —Commits to purchasing the cost of 50% or more of its core products from independent, local suppliers. It has purchased more than $14,000 of hot peppers from its partner farms. —Partners with 75 gardens in 15 cities including New York City, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; Oakland California; and Chicago, Illinois. It has distributed more than $44,000. Products: Hot sauces made with serrano peppers, jalapeños or habaneros, and named for the city where the peppers were grown.
Certified: January 2021 Impact score: 81.3 Category highest score: Workers–24.7 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/thread-coffee-roasters Location: Baltimore, Maryland Sector: Manufacturing The good it does: —Goes beyond fair trade standards by paying higher prices than the fair trade minimum; establishing relationships with farmers; and supporting practices that protect environments and cultures. —Empowers women on coffee farms and in Baltimore, Maryland; prioritizes women, queer and people of color in its hiring practices; employs a worker-owned model of governance. —Practices transparent trade, opening all of its contracts and financial reports to the public and including farmer profiles on its website. Products: A wide variety of coffees in different roasts and sourced from different countries, available at wholesale, retail, food service and private label. Also offers a canned Cold Brew.
Certified: October 2020 Impact score: 84.4 Category highest score: Environment–39.5 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/thrive-market Location: Los Angeles, California Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Offers everyone an easy and affordable path to healthy living with a broad selection of natural, organic and non-GMO foods. For every paid membership, a free membership is offered to someone in need. —Raises funds for food access and environmental sustainability (more than $3.6 million in the past four years); launched a COVID-19 fund in March 2020, raising more than $1 million to support 30,000 families. —Employs ethical and sustainable sourcing, zero-waste warehouses, carbon-neutral shipping and recyclable or compostable packaging. Products: This online grocer carries more than 5,000 organic and non-GMO products and offers 70-plus sorting filters and values so allow consumers to shop by diet and lifestyle.
Certified: October 2020 Impact score: 86.6 Category highest score: Workers–26.6 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/tillamook-county-creamery-association Location: Tillamook, Oregon Sector: Manufacturing The good it does: —As a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook is committed to providing the most consistently best tasting dairy products made in the most natural way possible. —Six Stewardship commitments focus on being good stewards of cows and farms; of people and products; and of communities and the environment. —Establishes long-term, direct relationships with farmers. Products: Cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese spreads.
Certified: October 2020 Impact score: 86.3 Category highest score: Workers–23.1 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/welly-health-pbc Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Works to bring simplicity and delight to the world of healthcare. —Holds itself to high standards in taking care of society and the environment. Products: Bandages in a variety of shapes and size, with fun colors and patterns; first aid kits; ointments; travel medicine kits; and blister care bandages.
Certified: October 2020 Impact score: 86.3 Category highest score: Workers–23.1 B Corp URL: https://bcorporation.eu/directory/welly-health-pbc Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Sector: Wholesale–Retail The good it does: —Works to bring simplicity and delight to the world of healthcare. —Holds itself to high standards in taking care of society and the environment. Products: Bandages in a variety of shapes and size, with fun colors and patterns; first aid kits; ointments; travel medicine kits; and blister care bandages.
Being a Certified B Corporation doesn't mean a company's products or services are innately better than another's.
Being a Certified B Corporation means a company has a positive effect on its employees, community, environment and customers. It means a company is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on its stakeholders—not just its shareholders—and be transparent.
Certification is not a one-and-done exercise, either. Once a company is certified—meaning it scored 80 points or more, out of 200, on an assessment of its operations and business model—it must undergo a review every three years. More than 3,800 companies in 150 industries were certified as of Feb. 16.
A search of the B Corp directory turned up 15 companies in the natural or healthy industry that have been certified since October.
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