BERWYN, Penn. – 67 companies worldwide were recognized for creating the most positive overall social and environmental impact by the nonprofit B Lab, with the release of the second annual ‘Best for the World’ list. The B Corp Best for the World List honors businesses that earned an overall score in the top 10% of all Certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive assessment a company's impact on its workers, community, and the environment.
Highlighted companies include Roshan, Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider, One Pacific Coast Bank, a pioneer triple-bottom line, community development bank, and Cooperative Home Care Associates, the nation’s largest worker-owned cooperative, providing high-quality home care services to elders and individuals living with disabilities. The ‘Best for the World’ companies come from over 25 different industries and 20 countries. 30% of honorees are based outside the US, with 13 companies operating in emerging markets. (Full list of honorees below)
“A company’s revenue only tells half the story. Today’s most successful businesses must also create a positive social and environmental impact,” said Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that certifies B Corporations and governs the independent third party standard used to generate the comparable assessment of corporate impact. “These companies are competing to be not only the best in the world, but the best for the world.”
Each honored company is a Certified B Corporation, a new type of company using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. They have met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today there are over 700 certified B Corporations, across 60 industries and 25 countries, unified by the common goal to redefine success in business.
B Lab will release separate lists recognizing the companies ‘Best for the Environment’ (environmental impact), ‘Best for the Community’ (community impact), and ‘Best for Workers’ (employee impact) throughout the coming year.
B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through several interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) promoting benefit corporation legislation to create a new corporate form that meets higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency; 3) driving capital to high impact investments through use of B Lab’s GIIRS Ratings & Analytics platform; and 4) helping all companies measure what matters through use of the B Impact Assessment, B Lab's free confidential management tool for measuring a company's impact on it's workers, community, and the environment. Learn more at bcorporation.net, benefitcorp.net, and giirs.org.
2013 ‘Best For the World’ Overall Honorees
Midsize Businesses (50+ Employees)
Asilia Africa (Tanzania) – Asilia Africa is a leading experiential travel company in East Africa, offering high-end safari and accommodation services to an international client base, while creating lasting positive impacts on both the natural habitats and the local economies.
Co2 Bambu (Nicaragua) – CO2 Bambu designs, manufactures and assembles ecologically sound structures for homes, schools, and clinics
Cooperative Home Care Associates (NY) – CHCA is the nation’s largest worker-owned cooperative, providing high-quality home care services to elders and individuals living with disabilities—primarily African-American and Hispanic residents of the South Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights.
d.light design (CA) – d.light is a for-profit social enterprise whose purpose is to create new freedoms for customers without access to reliable power so they can enjoy a brighter future.
Echale a tu casa (Mexico) – Echale is a social housing production company that delivers affordable homes to communities through the implementation of innovations in construction technology and finance, streamlining the self-build process and strengthening social inclusion.
Give Something Back Office, Inc (CA) – Give Something Back Office Supplies (GSB) is California's largest independent office supply company, with giving back to communities integral to its core mission and purpose.
Greenlight Planet (India) – Greenlight Planet is a for-profit social enterprise focused on solving the energy needs of the 'off-grid' rural households in the developing world. They combine cutting-edge technology with innovative distribution to commercialize solar home lights.
Greyston Bakery, Inc. (NY) – Greyston Bakery is most famous for its long-standing status as Ben& Jerry's brownie supplier and for having an open-hiring policy that provides the people of Yonkers, NY with employment opportunity regardless of work history.
Home Care Associates (PA) – Home Care Associates of Philadelphia (HCA) has dedicated itself to a quality care through quality jobs mission. By providing quality home care jobs, HCA works to ensure quality care across the Philadelphia metropolitan area for elders and people with disabilities.
Journey Healing Centers (AZ) – Journey Healing Centers is an accredited drug and alcohol rehabilitation program which provides completely confidential services in residential treatment, day treatment, outpatient, long-term sober living, and dual diagnosis therapy to adults.
Namaste Solar (CO) – Namasté Solar provides PV design, engineering, installation, maintenance, and consulting services to residential, commercial, builder, non-profit, and government customers throughout the U.S.
One PacificCoast Bank (CA) – One PacificCoast Bank is an innovative, triple-bottom line, community development financial institution.
PeaceWorks Technology Solutions (ON, Canada) – PeaceWorks provides first-rate technology solutions that enable organizations to achieve their mission with increased ease and efficiency.
Solutions For Progress (PA) – Solutions for Progress' signature product, The Benefit Bank® online service (www.thebenefitbank.org) helps low- and moderate-income Americans access work and income supports including tax credits and refunds, student financial aid, and benefits such as food, medical, cash, heating, and disability assistance.
Sungevity (CA) – Sungevity is the nation’s fastest growing residential solar company that designs, installs, and finances residential solar electric systems. They seek to make solar installation more accessible and affordable to the community by providing education about solar energy, an online iQuote process that relieves the hassle of home visits, and various lease options to remove any financial burden
Sunrise Banks (MN) – Sunrise Banks is in the business of developing strong communities that provide homes and jobs to their residents
Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd. [Roshan](Afghanistan) – Roshan is Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider
VIF International Education (NC) – VIF International Education is the nation’s largest J-1 teacher exchange sponsor and a provider of language immersion and global literacy programs.
Small Businesses (10-49 Employees)
Bay Area Medical Academy (CA) – Bay Area Medical Academy offers job-oriented training in high-growth, high-demand, specialized areas of the healthcare field and prepares individuals for successful long term careers
Community Wealth Ventures (DC) – CWV offers strategy and implementation services to nonprofit organizations and philanthropic foundations, partnering with them to design and implement innovative approaches to growth and sustainability.
Delight Co., Ltd. (South Korea) Delight manufactures and distributes hearing aids at affordable prices
Green Living Enterprises (ON, Canada) – Green Living Enterprises is a full-service media, marketing, custom content provider and events company that has increased public awareness of environmental issues and inspired personal action through print publications and www.greenlivingonline.com.
Highland Craftsmen, Inc (NC) – Highland Craftsmen Inc designs, manufactures and sells all-natural Bark House® brand architectural elements to building, design and furniture professionals as well as individuals.
Hybrytec Solar (Colombia) – Hybrytec Solar designs and installs solar energy systems for health centers, fishing villages, schools, hotels, and private customers.
Impact Makers, Inc. (VA) -I mpact Makers delivers information technology and management consulting services, focused on the healthcare industry.
Juhudi Kilimo (Kenya) – Juhudi Kilimo finances targeted agricultural assets for smallholder farmers and rural enterprises across Kenya. Operating exclusively in very rural areas, they give smallholder farmers access to the tools they need to scale up and succeed.
Moving Forward Education (CA) – Moving Forward Education provides tutoring and mentoring services for underserved students in the Bay Area
Quetsol (Guatemala) – Quetsol provides affordable solar power to off-grid communities.
Re:Vision Architecture (PA) – Re:Vision Architecture (RVA) is an architecture, planning, and consulting firm specializing in sustainable design and development.
Trillium Asset Management (MA) – Trillium Asset Management, LLC (Trillium) is the oldest independent investment advisor devoted exclusively to sustainable and responsible investing (SRI).
Veris Wealth Partners (NY) – Veris Wealth Partners, LLC is a wealth management firm committed to helping align wealth with a customer's mission.
W.S. Badger Co, Inc. (NH) – W.S. Badger Co manufactures Badger Balm and other USDA organic body care products.
Micro-Enterprises (<10 Employees)
Alter Eco Foods (CA) – Alter Eco works with dozens of small scale agricultural cooperatives in the Global South to provide a fairer deal and market access for small farmers. Alter Eco offers a large range of exquisite Fair Trade, Organic and Carbon Neutral foods.
Andean Naturals, Inc. (CA) – Andean Naturals acts as a bridge between South American quinoa farmers and US food companies. It facilitates the growth of the organic and fair-trade quinoa market while improving the lives of over 4,500 small family farmers through increased income, technical assistance and sustained demand.
Atayne, LLC (ME) – Atayne makes high performing, outdoor and athletic apparel from 100% recycled materials.
Beartooth Capital (MT) – Beartooth Capital is a leading impact investment fund manager whose mission is to generate strong investment returns, real conservation results and community benefits.
CDI Ventures S/A (Brazil) – CDI Lan generates income & employability through education & training in low income communities by providing access to high social impact solutions through internet cafes.
EARTH-NT (TX) – The Energy and Resource Technology Hub of North Texas is a 1,000 acre campus that is designed to demonstrate the business case for sustainability – a cross between a "Green" Silicon Valley, EPCOT Center, and a sustainable business accelerator.
Ecotrust Forest Management (OR) – Ecotrust Forest Management is a forestland investment management and advisory services company that generates long term value for both investors and society by facilitating positive environmental outcomes and supporting job creation in rural communities
Education Funding Partners (CO) – Education Funding Partners provides Fortune 500 corporate marketing sponsorships exclusively for major public school districts.
Emerge Financial Wellness (CA) – Emerge Financial Wellness is workplace-based financial wellness program that partners with employers to help their workers plan their financial futures.
Fans Without Footprints (NY) – Fans Without Footprints leverages the power of sports and the passion of its fans to benefit the environment by offering the opportunity to join with their favorite team to support local green projects in the community.
Farmland LP (CA) – Farmland LP acquires conventional farmland and converts it to organic, sustainable farmland.
Greater Richmond Grid (VA) – Grid is a free magazine providing upbeat news and resources to the greater Richmond area.
Grounds for Change (WA) – Grounds for Change is a certified organic coffee roaster specializing in 100% fair trade coffee. They roast organic fair trade coffee that is grown in shaded conditions and offer comprehensive wholesale and fundraising programs
Little Pickle Press (CA) – Little Pickle Press is a publisher of high quality, high impact media for children, dedicated to helping parents and educators cultivate conscious, responsible little people by stimulating explorations of the meaningful topics of their generation.
Manzimvula Ventures, Inc. (BC, Canada) – Manzimvula Ventures is a values-based consulting firm whose purpose it is to support organizations who choose to build socially responsible and profitable enterprises that profoundly impact their organizational communities and the individuals they affect in a compassionate and sustainable manner.
Mikado Consulting (Turkey) – Mikado is a social enterprise committed to serving sustainable development and yielding social impact. They craft innovative models and solutions by creating partnerships among the private sector, civil society, academic institutions and international organizations.
Ned Schaub Consulting, Social Change Strategy (CA) – Ned Schaub Consulting Social Change Strategy (NSC SCS) facilitates and supports sustainability planning, philanthropic strategy, retreats and workshops, particularly for organizations in the healthcare and social service sectors.
New Avenue (CA) – New Avenue is an online platform that sells architecture services, loans and construction to homeowners who want to add a second unit to their single family home.
One Earth Design (Hong Kong) – One Earth Designs develops and markets technology solutions, including solar ovens and generators, for those who lack access to clean and affordable energy.
Pacific Northwest Kale Chips (OR) – Pacific Northwest Kale Chips is a small-batch chip maker founded on the principles of delivering locally-sourced, organic, and sustainable food to all sectors of society.
Palmetto Ventures (UK) – Palmetto Ventures offers a fully integrated service that leads organizations towards cost-effective and sustainable solutions. Through customized planning and efforts to deliver tangible investment opportunities, they have delivered over $10 billion towards a clean energy future.
Philantech (DC) – PhilanTech provides the PhilanTrack™ online grants management system – an online grant proposal, reporting and management system that enhances accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
PictureHealing (CA) – PictureHealing develops community, awareness, and support for charity through photo-sharing on your iPhone & Android.
Piedmont Biofuels (NC) – Piedmont Biofuels is a community scale biodiesel operation which collects used cooking oil from area food service establishments and converts it into a clean burning renewable fuel.
Project Repat (MA) – Project Repat upcycles t-shirts into more fun and fashionable clothing accessories while creating jobs.
RSF Capital Management, Inc. (CA) – RSF offers investing, lending, and giving services that generate positive social and environmental impact while fostering community and collaboration among participants.
Sechler CPA PC (AZ) – Sechler CPA PC is a completely virtual accounting firm serving the tax and consulting needs of approximately 350 local, national and international nonprofit organizations.
Seeds Printing (PA) – SEEDS is a green printing company comprised of environmentally conscious, creative professionals with years of experience in the fields of printing, design, marketing, writing and editing, and world-class customer service
SEQUIL Systems, Inc. (FL) – SEQUIL Systems, Inc. is a professional services firm which provides highly technical building commissioning, LEED program management, energy modeling and sustainability consulting services to the architecture, engineering and construction industry
Strategic Sustainability Consulting (VA) – Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impact.
Sustainability Advantage (ON, Canada) – Sustainability Advantage provides educational talks and resources to help lead a transformation toward a sustainable global society
Sustainability Television (BC, Canada) – Sustainability Television broadcasts positively framed education programming to encourage citizen engagement.
The EarthKeeper Alliance (CA) – EarthKeeper Alliance is dedicated to the conservation, preservation, restoration and thoughtful development of large tracts of land previously slated for largescale development.
The Paradigm Project (CO) – The Paradigm Project partners with well-established global relief and development organizations to help them identify, fund and develop scalable projects that meet immediate development needs while creating a foundation for long-term community benefit.
Water Power Group LP (ON, Canada) – Water Power Group develops small run-of-river hydropower projects in partnership with local & Aboriginal communities.
Source: B Lab
