EarthHero isn’t just a platform for brands that are using business as a force for good – we are one. In that spirit, we’re beyond proud to announce that, in addition to our partnerships with 1% for the Planet and Climate Neutral, we are a Certified B Corporation business! From public transparency to environmental performance (and so much more), being a B Corp means we’re working alongside a network of companies looking to redefine what success in business really means.
What you’ll learn:
- All about the non-profit B Lab
- What the B Corp Certification initiative is
- What it means for a business (like us!) to be B Corp Certified
- How to find, and shop with, Certified B Corps
Non-Profit Spotlights: B Corp
What is the B Lab?
Over the last century, conventional commerce has gotten a bad rep. From depleting the planet’s natural resources to lack of corporate responsibility around pollution, the businesses of our past prioritized profit over people… and tainted the way we see the market as a whole.
Here’s the truth: business can, and should, be used as a force for good. Consumers want their purchases to make a positive impact on both their own lives and the life of the planet. And that’s where B Lab comes in.
B Lab, an international non-profit, serves to redefine the role of businesses in our modern society – primarily through their B Corp Certification and B Impact Assessments – but also through advocacy around elevating how the government interacts with businesses and the economy as a whole. Their vision is that one day all companies, not just B Corps, will compete to not only be the best in the world, but also the best for the world. And we’re proud to be a part of that vision.
What does it mean to be B Corp Certified?
You’re probably wondering… how exactly does B Lab plan to reunite the needs of the planet with the goals of the economy? Through B Corp Certifications, of course! Businesses awarded the B Corp title have met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. They’ve been assessed, and scored, based on how the company impacts its workers, customers, community, and the environment – and then this information is released to the public via the B Corp directory (check out our page here!) Instead of simply looking at one product, they look at every aspect of the company – from supply chain to employee benefits. Basically, think of the B Corp Certification being to business what the Fair Trade Certification is to coffee.
And it’s not easy to do. Trust us. Being a Certified B Corp isn’t just a one-and-done thing, but rather an ongoing adventure into becoming the best version of your company that exists! B Corp companies (like us!) are constantly looking for ways to increase their Impact Assessment Score, and therefore their sustainability metrics as a whole.
How can I get involved with B Corp?
To date, there are 2,788 companies (we’re number 2,788!) that are B Corps, across 150 industries in 64 countries. Of these companies, 40% of B Corps are located outside of the USA, showing the global influence of the program. Simply put – B Corps are everywhere, which makes getting involved with B Lab easier than ever.
The number one way you can get involved with the program is easy: shop with, and support, Certified B Corps. Your dollar makes a difference, and when you use it to vote for products and brands you actually care about, the companies left in the dust will notice and change accordingly. Labeled “voting with your dollar” or conscious consumerism, it boils down to brands adapting to fit the needs of the marketplace. You can read all about conscious consumerism here – and then head to the B Corp Directory to find the full list of certified brands that deserve your dollar.
Our mission here at EarthHero is to make sustainable living easy. In that spirit, we’ve pulled together all the brands we have on our site that are also Certified B Corps. Here they are: Bureo, Green Guru, Preserve, Badger, Bambu Home, Desert Essence, Chico Bag, Klean Kanteen, Plaine Products, Love Bottle, To-Go Ware, Meliora, and Full Circle Home (with more to come!)
But, beyond making more intentional shopping decisions by supporting B Corps, another awesome way to make an impact is to reach out to brands that are not B Corps – and encourage them to take more sustainable actions. Whether this means emailing your local grocery store to ask them to offer paper bags instead of plastic or congratulating Adidas on their new recycled plastic sneaker, brands will listen to the needs of their customers. They want your business, so make them work hard for it!
Long story short: we are beyond stoked to join the ranks of Certified B Corporation Businesses®. We don’t want to just tell you how sustainable EarthHero is – we want to prove it, too. By joining this network of companies using business as a force for good, we feel we can create an even more meaningful impact on our planet… and truly provide value to our community of Earth heroes. Together we can redefine what success means.
This blog was originally posted on June 3, 2019, and most recently updated on March 1, 2022.
