The B Lab & B Corporations

Since we've dedicated this week to articles about for-profit companies that are giving back in a big way, I thought it would be helpful to provide some information on B Corporations, and introduce the intersection of the non-profit and for-profit world. As you may have noticed  many of the companies featured this week are certified B corporations.


B Lab is a non-profit organization entrepreneurs committed to using business to solve social and environmental problems through three initiatives:

• Certified B Corporations -  use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. To become a certified B corporation, companies must take the free, confidential B Impact Assessment, which measures a company's impact on communities, employees, and the environment.  Today the number of certified corporations is 681, in 24 countries and 60 industries.
• Passing Legislation - through the leadership of the community of certified B corporations, laws have been passed in 11 states, (and moving forward in 16 more), to create a new type of corporation- the benefit corporation- that best meets the needs of socially conscious entrepreneurs and investors. Benefit corporations have the same business model as traditional corporations; however they have higher standards of corporate purpose, accountability and transparency.
• GIIRS Ratings and Analytics - is a rating agency and analytics platform for impact investors. It gives investors the tools they need to analyze the impact of their investments with the same rigor as they analyze their financial risk and return.

Now, I must admit, I was feeling a little uncertain about B corporation certification and B Lab when I  first read about them. But, in true non-profit... and B corporation fashion, the organization is extremely transparent, with some big players in the for-profit and non-profit world involved in this movement.

First,  B Lab has published an annual report that is easily accessible on their website. Their pioneer investors for GIIRS Ratings and Analytics include the Rockfeller Foundation, J.P. Morgan, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and 20 other big wigs. Finally, you can learn more about B Lab, but checking out their GuideStar profile.

Wondering if you'd recognize a certified B corporation? Well why not read about, Ben &Jerry's, here.

If you're interested in becoming a Certified B Corporation, you can take the B Impact Assessment, here.

For the socially conscious consumer, Certified B Corporation has a directory of companies that meet their criteria, from financial services to energy provides. The company profiles include their B Impact Assessment rating.

Schoolbags for Kids

Schoolbags for Kids was founded by Kalon Gutierrez and Luis Garcia, with the mission to equip children around the world with the supplies they need to empower themselves through education. They believe every child deserves to have the tools to learn and succeed. So for each schoolbag purchased from Schoolbags for Kids, the company donates a yellow schoolbag with supplies to a child in need.

So why the yellow bags? Well, yellow is the international symbol for caution that signals motorists to slow down and yield as they drive.  Most children benefiting from Schoolbags for Kids donations walk miles, on dangerous roads, to get to school.

Right now donations are being sent to the following organizations:

• Holy Cross School, Belize
• Homes of Home Orphanage, India
• Baan Rang Kratai School, Thailand

Schoolbags for Kids Partnership with:

• Ecojot for donations to Haiti
• Books and Beyond Project for donations to Rwanda

I asked founder Luis Garcia if there was any option for consumers to simply donate purchased schoolbags. Here's what he said:  

"Our $10 "One There" schoolbag was put on our site after a customer contacted us stating he didn't have children of his own but wanted to send a schoolbag to help a kid in need. Since then we have many customers add a "One There" schoolbag to their order or just order several "One There: schoolbags. Currently, for every five "One There" schoolbags purchased, we send you a mini "One There" schoolbag as a Thank you. This way [customers] can show their support for the mission."

Please visit Schoolbags for Kids for more information about this great company. 

Roozt

About:

Roozt was founded in 2009 by Brent Freeman, Nick Reder, and Norma LaRosa. Their objective was to create a mainstream online shopping destination featuring the best socially conscious brands they could find. With hundreds of great brands, with fashions for him, her, and home, Roozt is definitely living up to their tagline: 'Bringin' Sexy Back to Giving Back.'

Roozt is committed to fostering positive social change within everyday actions; every purchase has a positive impact. The staff hand-select fashion forward companies that are also doing good, for their community, the environment, their employees or humanity as a whole. The staff are social entrepreneurs who believe they can make a difference in the world by harnessing the power of a business model. Their goal is to help the public learn about the thousands of brands that have incorporated inspiring causes into their business operations.

Site visitors are able to browse by product, impact region, or initiative... and... Just by signing up you're doing good:

One Member, One Meal:  Is a partnership with Feeding America*, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity. For every member that joins, Roozt will provide a meal to an American in need.

Brands:

Companies interested in having a Roozt store must submit an application explaining how their operations meet one or more of Roozt's areas of focus.

Ethical: Companies that maintain and promote extraordinary ethical corporate policies both externally and among their employees.

Community: Companies that are committed to supporting and advancing their surrounding communities to benefit members in a positive way.

ECO-Friendly: Companies that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to reducing their environmental foot print and impact.

Humanitarian: Companies that give back to humanity and are doing their part to provide resources to help solve critical issues across the globe.

All applications undergo a review process to ensure the brand meets Roozt Approved certification criteria.

Roozt allows you to be fashionable and socially conscious. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." I say even the smallest purchase can be a positive vehicle for change.



*Feeding America's mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. For more information visit their site.