B Lab, the organization which certifies B Corporations, has just released its 2017 Best for the World List, honoring the top-scoring companies in several categories in the B Impact Assessment. A total of 846 businesses across 52 industries from 48 countries are recognized on the full list of 2017 Best for the World honorees. We offer huge congratulations to these companies leading the way to a purpose-driven economy.
Over the years, we’ve had the honor of diving deep with leaders at a number of these businesses. Here’s a collection of our favorite stories and interviews with some of the companies on this year’s list.
Our stories and interviews with 2017 Best for the World Companies
Honoree: Beneficial State Bank
Meet The Woman Beating the Big Banks At Their Own Game – Our July/August 2016 cover interview with BSB’s co-founder and CEO Kat Taylor
Honoree: Bhakti Chai
How Bhakti Chai Conquered Your Coffee Shop – Brook Eddy was a single mom with a killer recipe and a sore back. Now she’s head of a fast-growing chai empire. Here’s how she did it — and keeps it fun.
Honoree: Divine Chocolate
How to Do Good When “Local” Spans The Globe – Divine Chocolate holds board meetings in 3 countries. We spoke with CEO Sophi Tranchell about what caring for local economies means in that context.
Honoree: gDiapers
gDiapers is Making Cloth Diapering Easy – Reusable diapers are better for the environment — but they can be a hassle. Enter certified B Corp gDiapers and their innovative baby product.
Honoree: Greyston Bakery
How Greyston Bakery is Using Brownies to Fight Poverty – Since 1982, this Yonkers-based company has used baking to create jobs for the hard-to-employ.
Honoree: Namasté Solar
Namasté Solar Is Bringing Conscious Leadership to the Renewable Energy Industry – From offering long-time employees a stake in the company to leading the way on environmental stewardship, this Colorado business lives its values in and out of the office.
Patagonia’s CEO Rose Marcario is proud to use business to support causes she believes in.
Photo by Amy Kumler
Honoree: Patagonia
Patagonia’s CEO Says Conscious Leaders Need To Stand For Something – Patagonia’s CEO Rose Marcario shares her best advice for companies and mindful CEOs on taking risks, trusting your gut, and driving social change.
How Patagonia Balances Social Value And Business Value – In this exclusive in-depth interview, Patagonia VP Rick Ridgeway reveals what Patagonia’s commitment to sustainable business means in practice.
Honoree: Plum Organics
How Baby Food Maker Plum Organics Scaled Up Without Giving Up On Social Responsibility – Since Campbells acquired Plum Organics in 2013, the company has become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of organic baby food. And they’ve done it without giving up on their commitment to social responsibility.
Honoree: Seventh Generation
How Seventh Generation Made Sustainable Cleaning Products Mainstream – With products in chains across America, Seventh Generation is one of the most visible purveyors of sustainable products around. President and CEO John Replogle explains how they got that way.
Honoree: Starvation Alley
The Washington Farm That’s Pioneering Organic Cranberry Juice – Everyone told Starvation Alley Farms that it wasn’t possible to produce cranberries organically. Now, the registered social benefit corporation is doing it.
Honoree: Yellow Leaf Hammocks
Fighting Poverty By Making Hammocks – By providing “prosperity wage jobs,” Yellow Leaf Hammocks aims to empower women and stop slash-and-burn agriculture in rural Thailand.
