This post was written by T Hanson, GMC’s development assistant.
In these disconcerting times of stock market volatility and COVID-19, it is comforting to know that in the corporate world there is already infrastructure established for businesses to support local communities.
A business certified as a B Corporation has made a commitment to using “Business as a Force for Good”. In Vermont, we are fortunate that of the 3200 B Corporations across the globe, we have the most per capita of any state; 37 in total! What this means to Green Mountain Club is that we have a pool of volunteers to call on, consistent financial and in-kind support for local events and projects, employee matching gift programs, and most importantly, a partner in the community to share responsibility for the greater good.
This month is B Corporation Month (#BCorpMonth) and GMC is participating by honoring our B Corp partners:
Please join GMC in thanking these B Corp partners with your support! Consumers should look on product packages and websites for the B Corp certification logo.
If you’re not familiar with B Corps here is some further background: B Corps (or Benefit Corporations) are not, as some might assume, a tax filing status. B Corps are for-profit companies that have elected to be assessed by B Lab, an independent non-profit consulting organization, for their positive impact on people and the planet. Their vision is that businesses can do good and turn a profit. The criteria for a business to be awarded the B Corp certification include a company’s environmental performance, employee relationships, diversity, involvement in the local community, the impact a company’s product or service has on those it serves, and more.
B Lab certified over 650 companies across the globe in 2019 — the most certifications in one year — expanding the B Corp community to over 3,200 companies hailing from more than 70 countries and 150 industries. Together, these companies are working to harness the power of business to solve the biggest social and environmental challenges facing the world today. In 2019 alone, B Corps have:
- Offset 6.4 million tons of carbon.
- Diverted 108 thousand metric tons of waste.
- Performed 60,000 hours of volunteer service.
- Protected 8,800 hectares of land.
To read stories about B Corp companies please visit B The Change.
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