Did you know March is B Corp Month? It’s a moment to celebrate the impact of a better business model and raise awareness about companies that align with your values.
This year, it’s more important than ever. As income inequality continues to widen while social programs are undermined, the need for purpose-driven businesses has never been more urgent.
B Corp certification is not a cure-all for the challenges facing our country, but in a marketplace of capitalism without adequate guardrails and where consumer protections are being dismantled daily, it’s good know there are businesses that believe in – and take concrete steps toward – protecting the environment and supporting the common good.
And it’s not just a nice-sounding mission statement or advertising campaign. Certified B Corps are businesses evaluated and verified by B Lab, a U.S.-based nonprofit that measures companies on rigorous social and environmental performance standards, public transparency, and accountability. Certification is a real benchmark of a company’s commitment to sustainability and equity.
So while key environmental protections are being weakened even as climate impacts intensify, and we reduce Medicaid and food stamps to pay for tax cuts, the B Corp movement offers a bold alternative to business-as-usual capitalism, proving that companies can balance profit with people and the planet - if they have the ethical fortitude to do so.
Or as in our case, not just balance but prioritize social and environmental good over all else.
That’s who we are as individuals. So why would our business be anything but an extension of these values? Why does anyone leave their ethics on the doorstep on the way to work? That may sound naive, but sometimes answers to the simplest questions matter most.
Recently we were interviewed about why we switched from one local bank to another, and the answer is simple: values. Because even in finance, it matters. It matters where you bank, where you shop, what services you subscribe to. If Disney unjustly suspends a comedian for political reasons, just unsubscribe. If enough people take action, they take notice.
Voting with your wallet is one of the most potent ways to change the behavior of businesses behaving badly. It’s also one the best way to live your values. That is why we believe in choosing B Corps whenever possible.
Companies like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Method cleaning products, Cabot cheese, Uncommon Goods for gifts, Better World Books, Alter Eco chocolate, Nomad Coffee, New Belgium Brewing... there are thousands of B Corps.
And there's a great way to find them all: Find a B Corp, the official global directory where you can search by company name, industry, product type, or location to discover purpose-driven brands you’ll fall in love with.
Thank you. When you choose to support B Corp-certified brands, you’re not just buying a product — you’re investing in an economy that works for everybody, and the collective battle against climate change.
Perhaps most importantly, you are supporting a more hopeful and practical alternative to the status quo… business as a force for good.
