7 b-corps leading the way for others

The term B-Corps or Benefit Corporations is growing in popularity. It's a new type of company that looks to combine the success of traditional companies with the social and environmental good. 

Businesses that have earned the designation of "Certified B Corporation" have proven social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to strike a balance between profit and purpose.

Here is a link where you can learn more about what a B-Corp is: What's a B-Corp?

Keep on reading for seven examples of B-Corp companies that are putting people and the planet at the forefront. 

1. Patagonia 

Overall B Impact Score: 151.4

Patagonia is an American clothing company that manufactures and sells outdoor clothing, equipment, and lifestyle products. Patagonia's mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Patagonia was the first California company to sign up for B certification, in January, 2012.

“Patagonia is trying to build a company that could last 100 years,” said founder Yvon Chouinard on the day Patagonia signed up. “Benefit corporation legislation creates the legal framework to enable mission-driven companies like Patagonia to stay mission-driven through succession, capital raises, and even changes in ownership, by institutionalizing the values, culture, processes, and high standards put in place by founding entrepreneurs.”

Check out their website here: Patagonia

2. Bombas 

Overall B Impact Score: 96.6

Bombas is the fastest-growing sock company in the US, and for every pair of socks purchased, they donate a pair to a person in need.

Everything began with a need. At homeless shelters, socks are the most frequently requested item. The co-founders of Bombas, Randy Goldberg and David Heath, stumbled upon this need and made the decision to start a sock business using the one-for-one business model that Toms Shoes popularized. In 2017, Bombas received its B-corp certification. Bombas thinks that this certification is essential because it demonstrates their serious commitment to the community, makes their company's intentions public, and validates their practices through rigorous external scrutiny.

Check out their website here: Bombas

3. Allbirds 

Overall B Impact Score: 89.4

Allbirds is dedicated to making the most sustainable footwear they can - shoes people feel good in and good about - using the world’s best natural materials. The founder, New Zealand native Tim Brown, knew the power of merino wool. Naturally curious, he wondered why a fantastic, renewable resource was so scarce in footwear.

With wonder, Allbirds began. Tim teamed up with renewables expert Joey Zwillinger after years of research and tinkering. They created a new wool shoe fabric. Result? A new range of shoes inspired by natural materials and a mantra to make things better.

Allbirds was certified a B-Corp in 2016 and they had this to say, "As a certified B Corp, we do business differently. The environment is a stakeholder here, and how we treat it is just as important as the bottom line."

Check out their website here: Allbirds

4. Tentree 

Overall B Impact Score: 124.6

Tentree is an environmentally progressive, lifestyle apparel brand that plants ten trees for every item purchased. Tentree was founded on the premise that every consumer wants to know that they are contributing to the wellbeing of our planet.

Tentree plants native forests in areas that need it most. To date, they have already planted over 25 million trees and have a goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. As well as being environmentally conscious, the brand is also committed to providing good jobs and fair wages to local communities where they operate.

Tentree was certified in 2016 as a B-Corp and they had this to say, "This recognition reinforces our core belief — environmentalism should be inspiring and inclusive. Everything we do stems from how to do better by our planet and we’re constantly looking at innovative ways to make apparel with the smallest possible footprint. By planting ten trees for every item purchased, we are actively creating a more sustainable future and empowering our customers to make a tangible impact."

Check out their website here: Tentree

5. United by Blue 

Overall B Impact Score: 84.1

United by Blue is a B-Corp fashion brand that removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways for each product sold. The company's clothes, accessories, and cleaning products all use recycled materials and are made in a way that is good for the environment.

United By Blue was started in 2010 with the idea that each sale of a product should be linked to a real action for the environment. United By Blue cleans up one pound of trash from the oceans and waterways for every product it sells. These cleanups are organized and run by the company.

So far, more than 4.1 million pounds of garbage have been taken out of the oceans. United By Blue thinks that businesses not only have the ability to help solve environmental problems, but also have a moral obligation to do so. This is why they got their B Corp certification in 2011, which they have kept since then.

Check out their website here: United by Blue

6. Frank And Oak 

Overall B Impact Score: 81.7

Frank And Oak is a Canadian clothing company that makes stylish gender-neutral clothes for the modern consumer. It was founded in Montreal in 2013 by Jeffrey and Joey, two brothers who wanted to create an ethical company that was good for customers and the environment. The company's commitment to sustainability extends from its production methods all the way down from its packaging materials: everything used by Frank And Oak is recyclable or reusable!

A Certified B-Corp since 2019, they had this to say, "We’re on a journey towards better living, and we saved a seat for you. Our B corp certification officially recognizes our pledge to meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. This means balancing profit with purpose, public transparency, and legal accountability every step of the way. It’s a long trip, but our planet is worth it."

Check out their website here: Frank And Oak

7. Ben & Jerry's 

Overall B Impact Score: 110

Ben & Jerry's makes a wide range of super-premium ice cream and ice cream treats. They use high-quality ingredients, like milk and cream from family farmers who don't give their cows the synthetic hormone rBGH. Ben & Jerry's main goal is to make the best product they can, keep their business going, and make positive changes in society. Specifically, they want to promote new models of economic justice that are both sustainable and easy to replicate.

Ben & Jerry's has a nonpartisan, progressive Social Mission that aims to meet human needs and end injustices in local, national, and international communities. They have always backed projects that try to make peace without violence.

In 2012, Ben & Jerry's became the first wholly-owned subsidiary to get B Corp Certified. This was 25 years after the company pioneered the socially responsible business movement.

Check out their website here: Ben & Jerry's

These B-corps are changing the game for ethical companies.

B-Corps are a way for a company to show its stakeholders how socially and environmentally responsible they are. We will admit they aren't perfect, but they have the right idea.

B-corps have a triple bottom line (people, planet & profit). In contrast, other companies tend to have a single bottom line: profit. They use this framework to create better products for people and the planet—and they can still make money while doing it! The 7 companies above have a social mission, and they commit to meeting high standards of environmental protection, employee treatment, and community responsibility.

Although B-Corps are great, there are organizations without the certification doing similar and even better work than those mentioned above. So make sure to always do your research about the brands you support.

Many of the organizations above have similar values to ours at Yannai, so it was exciting to learn more about them for this article!

Read this article if you want to learn more about B-Corps: What is a B-Corp?

We are nowhere close to perfect, but we are trying our best! If you have any questions or concerns related to this article please reach out to us at sourcing@yannai.ca. Your feedback is valued and encouraged!