“We do our best to live meaningful lives that have a positive impact on our community and the planet.” Ezra Cipes, CEO of Summerhill Pyramid Winery, an organic, biodynamic, and “most visited” wine producer in the Okanagan Valley, might well be speaking for us all and certainly for all members of B Corp certified organizations worldwide. “B Corp is a brilliant system to bring this ethos into our business, to learn and be inspired, and to measure ourselves so that we always strive to be better. It is also a fantastic community to be a part of,” he said. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet exacting standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. To qualify for B Corp certification, companies must score a minimum of 80 points out of a possible 200. The assessment is painstaking, but for the growing number of B Corps there are more than 4,000 in 77 countries world wide and 230 in various industries across Canada — the effort is worth it.
Becoming a B Corp is a win-win. As management consultants often say, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure. The rigorous certification process can reveal areas for improvement that the companies may not have previously considered. Companies like Ben and Jerry’s, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia and Business Development Bank Canada are united by a common goal. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment. They’re accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. B Corps’ bottom line is about more than profit. A mix of people, planet and profit, a B Corp bottom line measures impact and highlights social responsibility.
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Believing that society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone, the B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose. B Lab, the certifying body, helps to foster the community by holding events that bring B Corps members together, creating oppor – tunities for them to build relationships, collaboration and cooperation with each other. The B Corp community is committed to using business as a force for good. Its values and aspirations are the core of the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence:
“We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation, the B Corporation, which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:
That we must be the change we seek in the world.
That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
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“PEOPLE CARE ABOUT COMPANIES THAT CARE ABOUT THE WORLD.”
That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all. To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations. “Using the power of business as a force for good falls in line with our views and ethics as well as our business initiatives, such as our Certified Organic Farm and our Éminence Kids Foundation,” said Nadira Kavanagah of Éminence Organic Skin Care, an award winning, B Corp certified skincare provider. “Choosing to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency supports our company.”
The Éminence brand promise is to deliver happiness and extraordinary service by providing the healthiest and most effective skin care products. They are committed to protecting the future of our planet through green practice and to plant a tree for every product sold. According to their website, Éminence has so far planted 17 million trees worldwide. Their status as a B Corp signals the validity of the claims. It sends a clear message to the world at large, including potential customers, partners or hires, that Éminence commitments are all valid and accountable. It also builds meaningful “social capital” with potential employees, customers and the general public — because people care about companies that care about the world.
