WHAT DO PATAGONIA, Ben & Jerry’s, and Etsy have in common? They’re all B Corporations. As part of the B Corp movement, they have committed to using business to build a better and more sustainable world. Along with 2,294 other corporations, they have signed a “Declaration of Interdependence” and are attempting to redefine the for-profit sector.
To become a B Corp, businesses must complete the B Impact Assessment, which scores the company on its environmental impact, relationship to its workforce, commitment to the community, and transparency in governance, as well as the benefit of the product to customers.
In 2016, the B Corp Community launched the “inclusive economy challenge” to encourage for-profit entities to think critically about the economy and work to create opportunities for all people to flourish. During the pilot year, 175 B Corps took on the challenge; together they eliminated wage gaps and expanded company ownership.
B Corps represent a wide range of goods and services, from accounting to skateboards (and much more). Here are some examples:
Homefree recognizes that food is a means of inclusion, making allergy-friendly baked treats in a dedicated facility free of gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and dairy.
Farm Dog Naturals is a woman-owned, sustainable company that uses ethically sourced ingredients to make safe and environmentally friendly herbal remedies for pets.
Ditto Hangers makes closets eco-friendlier with biodegradable clothes hangers made from heavy-duty fiberboard that fit 100 percent more clothing in small closets.
Luscious Garage is a woman-owned and -operated San Francisco auto repair shop that specializes in hybrid vehicles and incorporates environmental practices throughout the business.
KeepCup designed the first “barista standard reusable cup” that allows people to enjoy their coffee while not contributing to disposable cup waste.
Be Inspired Films is a U.K. company creating multimedia content for socially engaged organizations.
Christina Colón, a former Sojourners associate editor, is a teaching assistant at Boston University.
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