What Does It Take to Be a B Corp? 5 Industry Leaders Show Us the Way 

Becoming a B Corp is one of the highest achievements a company can receive in terms of social and environmental impact. It’s a shared mission that says nonprofit organizations and governments alone shouldn’t be solely responsible for solving the planet’s largest, most pressing issues; rather, B Corps commit to business practices that help to address these issues and minimize additional harm. 

We received B Corp certification in October 2020, after years of diligent work. The things that make B Corp certification so meaningful are the same things that make it quite difficult to achieve: it comes with shared goals such as adhering to the highest environmental and social performance standards, legally committing to changing corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders (rather than just shareholders), and making the company’s financial performance publicly available. 

March is B Corp Month, and we can think of no better way to celebrate than by sharing what makes B Corp certification so important. We’ve spoken to some of the most inspiring, knowledgeable leaders from brands we carry at Thrive Market, and we’re breaking down the B Impact Score system so you can understand how to vet the companies behind the products you buy. 

5 Industry Leaders Explain What Makes B Corp Certification So Important 

Brad Charron, CEO, ALOHA 

“As an employee-owned, certified B-Corp, we’re always searching for new and innovative ways to design great tasting food while reducing our impact on the planet. This strategy includes partnering with farms who not only produce some of the world’s most nutritious and delicious ingredients, but are also leading the charge on sustainable farming practices.”

Joey Bergstein, CEO, Seventh Generation 

“Our mission is to create a more healthy, sustainable, and equitable world for the generations to come. As a founding B Corp, we’ve always been focused on a triple bottom line: serving people, profit, and planet. B Corp also ensures that we are continually improving through its B Corp Impact Assessment, which shows us where we can be better for workers, communities, and the environment.

The B Corp logo represents not just a commitment to the highest social and environmental standards, but transparent proof of how the company meets these standards through its accountability requirements. B Corps are also legally accountable to balance purpose and profit, so a B Corp logo represents not just company intention but also true impact.”

Astrid Sprenger, Head Medicinal Gardener, Weleda

“[As a B Corp] we have high standards here for salaries, and people are paid very well. This is part of the biodynamic approach in general. Not only in our garden, but by rule, it’s very important that the biodynamic farmer is an independent, free person, but also part of the whole. […] There’s an interdependence with us as humans, as gardeners, with the plants we harvest. The whole thing is about circular economy, thinking there’s this biological body of soil microorganisms, plants, animals, humans, but there’s also this social body within these natural rhythms.”

Charlotte Traas, Director of Education, New Chapter

“Being a B Corp was a key moment for us as a brand. B Corps are measured against their ability to do better, year after year, and New Chapter thrives in doing more for both people and planet. B Corps build communities, support their workforces and place value in the wellbeing of the planet, all things we are committed to at New Chapter. It’s a badge of honor to be a B Corporation and work to improve our score year after year by doing more. We also share ideas with other B Corporations to help build a better future for business as a whole.” 

Nick Green, CEO & Co-Founder, Thrive Market

“Thrive Market is trying to build a company and an infrastructure that could last 100 years. Being a B Corp enables mission-driven companies like ours to stay mission-driven through capital raises, changes in ownership or leadership by cementing the values and pillars we put in place.”

What is the B Impact Score? 

In order to determine whether or not a company meets the criteria to become a B Corp, B Lab uses the B Impact Assessment. The assessment is independently governed by the organization’s Standards Advisory Council, an independent, global, group of stakeholders who are experts in sustainable business. 

The B Impact Score evaluates companies based on 5 categories. They are: 

Governance
Governance evaluates a company’s overall mission, engagement around its social and environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. 

Workers
Workers evaluate a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health and safety, wellness, career development, and engagement and satisfaction.

Community
Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics include diversity, equity and inclusion, economic impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and supply chain management.

Environment
Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable, its supply chain and distribution channels. 

Customers
This evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. 

As of today, Thrive Market’s B Impact Score is 84.4, which we’re proud to say is well above the average score of 50.9. 

Here’s the breakdown: 

• Governance: 5.6
  Learn more: About Us
  
• Workers: 18.5
  Learn more: A Roundtable Discussion With Our Black Thriver Union
  
• Community: 17.7
  Learn more: Thrive Gives
  
• Environment: 39.5
  Learn more: How We’re Building the World’s First Climate-Positive Grocery Store
  
• Customers: 2.9
  Learn more: Meet Andrea, a Mother, Freelance Graphic Designer, and Thrive Gives Member 

We’re always looking for ways to improve our score and, in turn, improve our impact on our community and the environment. This B Corp Month, we urge you to seek out B Corps whenever possible when you’re purchasing goods and services, and to consider the ways you can impact the world with your own purchasing power.