In the business world, a new breed of companies is emerging – B Corporations™ or B Corps™.

These are businesses that balance profit with purpose, aiming to make a positive impact on society and the environment. Interest in B Corp certification is growing worldwide as more companies recognise the value of sustainable and ethical business practices. Over 8,900 companies in 101 countries are currently certified.

Good 4 Business became a Certified B Corporation in January 2024 with an overall B Impact Score of 93.6, well above the median score of 50.9 for ordinary businesses. We are proud to be part of a community of businesses that prioritise social and environmental responsibility. To become certified, companies undergo a rigorous B Impact Assessment to evaluate their impact on workers, customers, the community, and the environment. This movement challenges traditional business notions and shows that companies can succeed by doing good.

B Corp Brands Making a Difference

Numerous B Corp brands across various industries are leading the way in sustainable and ethical business practices. These are a few that we have been using for years, and in most cases, they are brands that we use every day:

Patagonia

Patagonia is a Certified B Corporation that designs outdoor clothing and gear for silent sports. The company is committed to creating the best products, causing no unnecessary harm, using business to protect nature, and not being confined by convention. Patagonia’s owner, Yvon Chouinard, famously made the earth a shareholder and paid dividends to help fight the climate crisis. Read more here. I am an avid cross-country skier and love my Patagonia tops and sweaters for their function and durability.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure tour operator that balances profit and purpose. It first became B Corp certified in 2018. It recertified in 2021 with a higher score, demonstrating its commitment to using travel as a force for good, addressing social and environmental issues while creating memorable travel experiences.

We first travelled with Intrepid in 1991 and later with children in 2018. We are impressed with how Intrepid has stayed true to its mission to benefit both travellers and the communities they visit by using local guides who show the destination in a way that respects people and places.

Sheet Society

Sheet Society, a Certified B Corporation, provides bedding products to help people wake up refreshed. To minimise its social and environmental impact, the company is dedicated to making conscientious choices throughout its design, production, and delivery processes. Our personal favourite is their range of flannelette sheets. They are premium quality, super soft and cuddly for those chilly nights.

Greatest Good

The Greatest Good is a Certified B Corporation that links conscious consumers with for-purpose organizations to create positive social and environmental impacts. It serves as a directory, community, and marketplace, helping conscious consumers find, engage with, and support for-purpose organisations aligned with their values.

We love to jump onto the Greatest Good website and source unusual gifts and hampers for clients and loved ones. For those friends and family who prefer we donate instead of gifts, we find it easy to donate to a cause aligned with our loved ones’ values. Greatest Good makes it easy to make values-aligned decisions.

Aesop

Aesop is a Certified B Corporation that creates vegan skin, body, and hair care products, fragrances, and accessories. The company is devoted to supporting animal causes and has never conducted tests on animals with its products or ingredients. We love the Coriander Seed Body Cleanser.

Upparel

Upparel is a Certified B Corporation that provides convenient digital and offline solutions for collecting textiles from consumers and brands, demonstrating commercial and environmental benefits. We box up our excess textiles and book a Upparel pickup. Recycling unwanted clothes, bed linens, and dressmaking material has never been more convenient.

Chloe

Chloe is the first European luxury brand to achieve B Corp certification. The company is dedicated to taking full responsibility for its impact on all humans and the living things it is a part of. One of my ‘go-to’ handbags is from Chloe. I believe in buying better-quality items and using them daily, the opposite of fast fashion.

Eco Store

Eco Store is a Certified B Corporation that produces household cleaners, laundry, body care, skin care, baby care, and oral care products. Its biodegradable, plant—and mineral-based products are formulated from naturally derived ingredients chosen for safety and sustainability. The Eco Store toilet cleaner is a staple in our office and household.

The Cause Effect

The Cause Effect is a Certified B Corporation that assists business leaders in defining, articulating, and integrating meaningful purpose into their business’s core. They offer educational resources, workshops, and their signature Path to Purpose Program.

Carolyn Butler-Madden, founder of The Cause Effect, has also written one of our favourite books on purpose-driven business, For Love and Money. Carolyn also has a podcast by the same name, and both are great resources for anyone wanting to embed purpose in their business.

Who Gives a Crap

Who Gives a Crap produces eco-friendly toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. They donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and ensure safe access to water. Their B Corp certification validates their commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Who Gives a Crap use a subscription model, which became popular during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns when supplies were in high demand. We have been using Who Gives a Crap for over six years and love their quirky and fun branding. Our delivery arrives promptly every three months with 100% recyclable packaging. The bonus is that our shopping trolleys aren’t loaded with bulky toilet paper wrapped in nasty plastic.

T2

Anyone who has visited Good 4 Business will know our signature blend of Melbourne Breakfast and Go Go Goa from one of our favourite B Corps. T2 is a B Corp certified tea company dedicated to sustainability and ethical sourcing, offering a diverse range of premium teas from around the world. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact, T2 ensures every cup of tea contributes to a better planet.

B Corp’s role in shaping a better future

As the business landscape evolves, B Corporation™ stands out as successfully blending profit and purpose. These pioneering B Corps, from Patagonia’s outdoor gear to Intrepid Travel’s adventures, Sheet Society’s bedding, and The Greatest Good’s impactful connections, demonstrate that ethical practices can be woven seamlessly into daily operations.

Brands like Aesop, Upparel, Chloe, T2, Eco Store, and Who Gives a Crap not only offer sustainable products and services but also embody the potential of businesses when they commit to the greater good.

As we embrace these B Corp brands, we recognise that the journey towards a more sustainable and equitable world is not just possible but already underway.