Today marks Women’s Equality Day and the passing of the 19th Amendment. In celebration, we would like to recognize the many wonderful, women-owned and run B Corporations. Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. However, despite continual progress, women still lag…
Responsible Trade
Perspectives: Measuring Sustainability by Scott James, Fair Trade Sports
Like many of you, my August 9 newsstand edition of Forbes appeared in my mailbox the other week. Did you notice the full-spread advertisement just three pages in, with the title “A watt saved is a watt shared” and a compelling set of juxtaposed photos from Schneider Electric? This $16 billion company is bringing energy management…
Putting Heads Together: Better Know IdeaEncore
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste”, or so the saying goes. But what about all those great ideas you keep to yourself. Each and everyone of us has created something useful that is now just sitting on our hard drive. Imagine if we all shared our knowledge, made it so others with similar…
Changing Business to Change the World
Business accounts for over 75% of our nation’s GDP— this provides businesses with a tremendous opportunity to create results beyond financial return. We are living in an era of rapid change, with the incredible resources of inspiring entrepreneurs and businesses addressing major social problems. One great example is Southern Energy Management, which offers an array…
Experiences: iContact Achieves B Corporation Status
Written By: Matt Kopac, iContact Corporate Social Responsibility Consultant On June 30th, 2010, iContact was granted B Corporation status by the 501(c)3 non-profit organization B Lab, which developed the B Corporation (B Corp) standards and administers the certification (www.bcorporation.net). B Corp certification is for so-called “triple-bottom line” companies who believe that businesses can and should…
Connect with Coffee: Better Know Sustainable Harvest
Coffee is part of a typical morning, brewed and poured without a second thought. But who actually made your coffee? Where did it come from? Sustainable Harvest believes in the importance of these questions. An importer of fair trade, organic coffee, this B Corp leads the industry with their groundbreaking Relationship Coffee Model approach to…
10 Reasons to Smile if You’re a B Corporation
1. You’re creating a new class of corporation. The Benefit Corporation benefits society as well as shareholders. Unlike traditional corporations, Benefit Corporations must create a material positive impact on society and the environment; consider how decisions affect workers, community and the environment; and publicly report their social and environmental performance using established third party standards.…
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Better Know Renewal2
You can say we need more green and organic products, but are you helping make it possible? So often we hear about the importance of sustainable lifestyles, whether it be recycling or purchasing fair trade. But here’s one option we don’t talk about: investing alongside your values. Frequently our portfolios don’t match our other actions.…
B the Change: Local Foods Infrastructure Supports More Than Just Farming By Chris Roberts, Co-Founder of Barkwheats
There was a article recently written regarding “agroecological farming”, that while a mouthful to say is fairly simple in it’s premise. Take care of the land, and it will take care of you. It’s a statement that I fully believe in, and I believe that going back to supporting small scale, organic agriculture is a…
Carats with a Conscience: Better Know The Clarity Project
So you’ve finally found the right partner, with shared values, goals and intentions. Now you need a ring. However there are so many issues beyond fit, design and clarity. The traditional diamond industry is awash with problems from exploitative auction houses to the influx of blood diamonds, which originate in war zones and finance more…