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You are here: Home / Archives for b corp

B the Change

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

b corp, b corporations, b the change,

Learn more about certified B Corporations and how they use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

The Co-op is happy for the opportunity to work with like-minded businesses that believe we can all do good, while doing well. Now we have a reliable mechanism to identify these businesses thanks to Certified
B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good.™

Certified B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good

The Co-op is happy for the opportunity to work with like-minded businesses that believe we can all do good, while doing well. Now we have a reliable mechanism to identify these businesses thanks to Certified B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good.™

Certified B Corporations meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

They aspire to B the Change and use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

There are more than 1,500 Certified B Corporations in over 120 industries and 40 countries with one unifying goal—to redefine success in business.

Many of the products carried in our stores are from Certified B Corporations and when you choose to purchase products from these companies, you, too, can B the Change!

You can support B Corporations by looking for the Certified B Corporation seal on products throughout our stores—familiar names like Dr. Bronner’s, Seventh Generation, Runa, Klean Kanteen, and so many more, and including a few of our favorite recently B Corp certified local businesses.

Thank you for B-ing the Change by shopping at the Co-op!

Do we have local B Corp companies? Totally!

moon valley organics, b corp, certified b corporation, sustainable, local,

Moon Valley Organics in Deming, started in 1998, has stayed true to its passion of living ethically and sustainably. Moon Valley’s body care products are developed with the intention to nourish and heal your body, mind, and spirit, as well as to care for the Earth. The products contain sustainable, organic material, and packing is chosen that does the least harm and is recyclable and renewable. Moon Valley is growing to include national distribution while maintaining their connections with local businesses like the Co-op.

aslan, aslan brewing co, bellingham, b corp, certified b corporation, organic, sustainable, brewpub

Aslan Brewing Company in Bellingham is a sustainable microbrewery and restaurant exclusively brewing 100 percent USDA Certified Organic beer. Community outreach is of one Aslan’s key pillars. By staying connected with local nonprofits and community organizations, Aslan bolsters its contribution to social and environmental well-being. The brewpub is a community hub and frequently hosts fundraisers and events for local campaigns and organizations, making it more than just a beer-centric eatery.

brenthaven, b corp, certified b corporation, seattle, zero impact

Brenthaven, now headquartered in Seattle but established (and much beloved) in Bellingham, has a mission to achieve Zero Impact™ on the environment without compromising the quality and integrity of its products. The business accomplishes this in three ways:
• crafting products that last a lifetime, and standing behind them with a lifetime guarantee
• reducing impacts by a change in packaging strategy that eliminated the use of over 100,000 boxes per year
• offsetting its carbon footprint through investments in carbon credits and donations to green charities

What Other B Corp stuff do we carry?

b corp, certified b corporationGrocery
Alter Eco, Beanfields, Dang Foods, Essential Living Foods, Guayaki, Happy Family Brands, King Arthur Flour, Manitoba Harvest, Organic India, Plum Organics, Runa, Tanka

Supplements and body care
Dr. Bronner’s, Dr. Hauschka, EO Products, Essential Living Foods, Garden of Life, Manitoba Harvest, Moon Valley Organics, New Chapter, Nubian Heritage, Organic India, Preserve, Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, Topricin, W.S. Badger

Frozen and Refrigerated
Hilary’s Eat Well, Tofurky

Household Products
Chico Bags, Ecover, Klean Kanteen, Method, Preserve, Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, World Centric

Find more B Corp products throughout the store by looking for the B Corp logo.

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SUSTAINABILITY b corp| certified b corporations| fair trade| socially responsible| sustainability| sustainable

Fair Trade and Dr. Bronner’s

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

dr bronner, fair trade, dr. bronner's, all one, world fair trade day,

Dr. Bronner, pictured holding a bottle of the company's most recognizable product—liquid castile soap—with the iconic "ALL-ONE" label. Follow a timeline tracing the history of Dr. Bronner’s at its website, or watch the fascinating 2006 documentary film, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, to learn about the compelling family history behind the company.

In the April 2016 Co-op News, we had the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the many B Corp-certified businesses we work with, including local B Corps Aslan Brewing Company and Moon Valley Organics.

In May, it is time for fair trade businesses to take their deserved turn in the spotlight. The 2016 celebration of World Fair Trade Day on May 14 will be centered on the theme “Be an Agent for Change.” That might sound familiar, since the B Corp tagline is “B the Change.” Once again proving that great minds think alike!

There is a lot to celebrate about businesses that are dedicated to fair trade practices.

Fair trade is a tangible solution to poverty eradication, a good tool for sustainable development, and most of all, fair trade promotes social justice.

One of our favorite fair trade companies is Dr. Bronner’s, not surprisingly it is also B Corp certified.

Most Co-op shoppers are familiar with Dr. Bronner’s products; from its iconic Castile Liquid Soap—with the even more iconic original blue “ALL-ONE” label—to its newest foray into organic virgin coconut oil.

Dr. Bronner’s shares a lot of interesting insights on its website about its ethical sourcing practices. For instance, the coconuts used in Dr. Bronner’s products are ethically sourced from Sri Lanka and Kenya. And the coconuts specifically used in the food grade virgin coconut oils are sourced from the sustainable Serendipol project in Sri Lanka.

Serendipol originally grew out of a relief project established after 30,000 people in Sri Lanka lost their lives in a 2004 tsunami.

Built, owned, and operated by Dr. Bronner’s, and local partners, Serendipol has become the world’s foremost source of certified fair trade and organic virgin coconut oil.

Workers at Serendipol in Sri Lanka.

Workers at Serendipol in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Bronner’s factory in Kuliyapitiya supports the livelihoods of more than 750 organic farmers and 275 staff members, and has a major impact on local community development. It pays fair prices to farmers and supports them with organic inputs and organic agriculture training, which improves soil quality, yields, and profitability. Mill workers enjoy working conditions and compensation uncommon in the industry, and in an area that has few reliable jobs to offer to its growing rural population.

The fair trade premium paid by Dr. Bronner’s and other customers for Serendipol coconut oil is used for a range of community development projects, such as setting up a composting operation to support farmers with organic fertilizer at cost, supporting several regional clinics with critical equipment, renovating schools and supporting vocational training, connecting remote villages to the power grid, and renovating bridges.

Serendipol has proven that producing organic virgin coconut oil can be sustainable and fair, while supporting rural development in a significant way. So the next time you purchase a jar of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, rest assured that every person along the entire supply line for that product has been fairly compensated for their work.

Learn more about all of Dr. Bronner’s products, ethical sourcing, and the company’s positive impact around the world at drbronner.com.

dr. bronners, serendipol, fair trade, workers
Workers at Serendipol in Sri Lanka gathering coconuts

A model for other projects worldwide, Serendipol exemplifies a fair trade supply chain from root to fruit.

“To the customer, it’s a reliable source, fair pricing and fair terms. To the employee, it’s good working conditions, regular work, fair wages, health and safety. To the farmer, it’s fair payment terms, fair price for their lands, and transparency.” –Sonali Pandithasekera, Chief Financial Officer of Serendipol.

Photos courtesy Dr. Bronner’s.

An interesting by-product of this process is the production of nigari, also called bittern. Nigari is used as a coagulant in the making of tofu, and the salt farm sells it to people who want to make their own homemade tofu. Who knew?

After careful monitoring to achieve the preferred moisture content, San Juan Island Sea Salt is ground to a consistency similar to fleur de sel. The irregular crystal size, lots of minerality, and a slight moisture content make it ideal as a finishing salt to sprinkle atop your baked goods, meats, vegetables, chocolates and caramels, egg dishes, or pretty much anything that would benefit from a pinch of salt. Of course, you can also use San Juan Island Sea Salt in recipes, just like any common salt.

Due to a combination of the trace minerals in the salt and our wet climate (and steamy kitchens), it’s completely natural if your San Juan Island Sea Salt gets a tiny bit clumpy. When needed, just give the jar a quick whack to loosen and sprinkle on the salty riches of the sea.

About World Fair Trade Day

world fair trade dayWorld Fair Trade Day falls on the second Saturday of May of each year. It is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty and exploitation, climate change, and the economic crises that have the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations. Trade must benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers. Millions of producers and traders, businesses and policy-makers, supporting organizations and volunteers have contributed to the substantial growth of Fair Trade globally.

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SUSTAINABILITY b corp| castile soap| coconut| dr. bronner's| ethical sourcing| fair trade| kenya| organic| serendipol| sri lanka| virgin coconut oil| world fair trade day

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2022 Community Shopping Day Donations

Every year, the Co-op Member Affairs Committee (MAC) and Board of Directors selects community organizations to be the monthly Community Shopping Days (CSD) recipient. CSD recipients receive 2% of the Co-op’s total sales on the third Saturday of their designated month, and all register donations made during the month. Now [...]
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Earth Day at the Co-op

This Earth Day, we’re sharing some of our favorite sustainable products and actions to help you be gentler on the Earth today and everyday.

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Black History Month: Celebrating Black Innovators in Agriculture

This Black History Month we’re celebrating Black innovators in sustainable agriculture. Learn about the contributions made by key players.

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