10 Top B Corp Companies Using Business As a Force for Good

A lot happens in February. There’s Valentine’s Day, of course. But also V-Day with One Billion Rising to end end violence against women, World Day of Social Injustice, International Day of Women’s Health, and more.

February is also B Corp Month, a time to recognize and celebrate companies that take social and environmental responsibility seriously, and that believe business can be a force for good in the world.

What is a B Corp?

It’s a company that uses the power of the marketplace to help solve social and environmental problems. It is to business what Fair Trade is to coffee and USDA Organic is to milk. B Corps are certified to meet comprehensive standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

It’s real, it’s rigorous, and most importantly, you can trust it. Every 2 years Prosperity Candle goes through the certification process and it’s challenging – as it should be. We all know there is a lot of fluff out there… companies making claims that are hard to verify, or for every good deed they promote, something bad lurks in the background.

That’s why Jay Coen Gilbert, Bart Houlahan and Andrew Kassoy co-founded B Lab, the nonprofit that certifies B Corps. It does a 360 degree assessment of how a business operates and not only verifies, but provides a roadmap for continual improvement. As they like to point out, the B Corp stamp is the difference between slick marketing and a truly good company.

Who else is B Corp certified? Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s,  Eileen Fisher and King Arthur Flour to name a few familiar names. There are now 2,391 B Corps in over 50 countries and 130 Industries, and more are signing up every week. It’s pretty cool.

So we’re loving that February is B Corp month. From day one, Prosperity Candle was created to deliver positive social impact. It’s etched into the documents filed with the Vermont Secretary of State. Simply put, we prioritize social good over everything else. And for the past 7 years we’ve stayed true to that mission, no matter what.

Commitment is what defines the B Corp movement, because helping to solve social and environmental problems through business is hard. It takes extra resources, a lot more time, and there are costs that competitors don’t bear. Plus you can’t put it aside whenever it suits you, picking and choosing when to be a good citizen. It has to be part of every moment of every day.

That is B Corp. And that is why we are proud to stand next to so many great companies doing things a better way, demonstrating that business can be a powerful force for good in the world. We’re hopeful the idea will continue to catch on. It’s certainly encouraging that the world’s largest investment firm BlackRock made a bold call to CEOs to start showing how their businesses are contributing positively to society. Change just might be afoot.

So all February we are joining B Lab in celebrating B Corp Month and the global movement to redefine what it means to be successful in business. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of B Corps giving back in incredible ways.

Send these companies some love by visiting, following and sharing their goodness.

10 businesses you might not know are B Corps:

1. Warby Parker: If you’re in need of new eyeglasses, definitely check out Warby Parker. Their eyewear is high quality, more affordable than traditional eyeglasses, and for every pair they sell, they donate another to someone in need.
2. Cabot Creamery Co-op: Cabot is the first dairy cooperative in the U.S. to achieve B Corp certification, and you can find their cheese in most grocery stores. They’re one of the few remaining dairies in New England to be locally owned and operated. Plus their cheddars are the best!
3. Accompany: Accompany is a socially conscious, fair trade fashion and accessory brand. They sell beautiful handmade pieces and ethically sourced items online that empower both the artisan who made them and the community. We love Accompany’s style.
4. Stonyfield Farm: Stonyfield makes delicious organic yogurt that is also good for the community, workers, and the environment. You’ll likely find it in your local grocery store. And if you want to hear a really great story, listen to co-founder Gary Hirshberg talk about the trails of starting Stonyfield Farm. We heard him live at Hampshire College and were enthralled.
   
5. West Paw Design: This Bozeman, Montana company makes eco-friendly, super high-quality products for dogs and cats that are 100% made in the U.S. Check them out for everything from award-winning toys toys to washable, long-lasting beds.
6. Allbirds: Allbirds is a very cool shoe company that’s committed to making high quality in an ethical way. Their wool runners are made with ZQ-certified merino wool, which means it meets strict standards of sustainable farming and animal welfare. Plus their website is gorgeous!
7. Divine Chocolate: We always have some Divine Chocolate in the studio, not only for our gift sets, but also because we love creamy, high quality, yummeriffic chocolate. Sometimes you just have to indulge, and it’s better when it’s Fair Trade and B Corp certified.
8. The Tea Spot: Based in Boulder, CO, The Tea Spot has become our go-to source of great teas, both at home and in our Tottori Tea Time. Their selection is broad and sachet pyramids delightful to steep, but even better are their donations to community wellness programs that have supported over 100 organizations and touched more than 10,000 lives. Plus they are women-owned, which is always nice to see.
9. Badger Body & Skin Care:  Badger is a great company from start to finish… we’ve crossed paths on many occasions, most recently at a B Corp event in Vermont with Eileen Fisher, Cabot and King Arthur. Their lip balms are well known, but check out their broad assortment that has everything from skincare to baby products and men’s beard grooming kits.
10. Leesa Sleep: Leesa is an online mattress retailer that gives back by donating one mattress for every ten sold to organizations supporting homeless and at-risk individuals. On top of that, with every mattress shipped they also plant a tree… we love that!
11. BONUS! Wouldn’t it be super helpful when you searched for something online someone would point out the best option? Well, meet DoneGood, the smartest shopping tool ever. A fellow B Corp, DoneGood has a free Chrome extension that helps you navigate search results to find the best choice for what you want to buy. They’re working on other browsers, but you can also get their free and beautifully designed phone app. Plus you get great discounts! As the DoneGood team says, there’s good in the world and they will help you find it. Check them out.

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