B The Change — Wild Rye is B Corp!
Wild Rye believes deeply in linked prosperity, and the idea that all stakeholders connected to a business should prosper as we do. This includes those who produce our fabrics and sew our clothes, the warehouse employees who track and pack products, to the in-house employees who are the face of the brand, to the athletes and photographers we work with. Every single person involved in this business is a vital part of its success—including the customers and communities we serve. When you shop B Corp, you’re supporting a brand that is part of a vital movement. You’re supporting a brand that has vowed – and proven its commitment to – valuing its employees, stakeholders, customers, and the environment right alongside that of its profit. The B Corp Certification is the next step for socially responsible businesses who want to do more for their community and the planet.
What is a B Corp?
B Corps (B Corporations) are for-profit, mission-driven businesses that meet the highest standards of environmental and social performance, legal accountability, and public transparency. Most businesses have one, very clear bottom line: to make a profit. B Corps are unique in that they have a “triple bottom line” which means they take the planet and people as well as profit into consideration when making decisions. B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B Corp certification describes B Corporations as:
“...businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”
The ethos behind the B Corp certification is a movement to use businesses as a force for good, which deeply resonates with us at Wild Rye. This certification reinforces the idea that we vote with our dollars, and that the world’s most pressing challenges cannot be solved by small organizations or governments alone. We need the power of community and collective voice.
Here are 10 corporations you’ve probably heard of, but might not have known are B Corp Certified (that we’re proud to be alongside!)
- Patagonia
- Warby Parker
- Eileen Fisher
- Ben & Jerry’s
- New Belgium Brewing Co
- Grounds for Change
- Seventh Generation
- Dr. Bronner’s
- Taos Ski Valley
- Parks Project
How does it work?
Obtaining a B Corp Certification is a long and involved process – which means the companies that go through the process are truly committed to the mission and believe in its importance . The B Corp Certification measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact. In order to receive the certification a company must:
- Demonstrate high social & environmental performance. This is done by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above, as well as passing a risk review.
- Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
- Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their business performance to be publicly available on their profile on B Lab’s website.
To sum it up...
In short, achieving this certification is so much more than getting to put a fancy “sustainable” logo on our website. “This process and certification will serve as a north star for Wild Rye as we grow and develop in this ever changing industry and world. With this “guiding star” in place, it won’t matter who invests in us, who joins the Wild Rye team, or who purchases from us. They will all have a crystal clear view of our values, expectations, and decision-making processes. With no room for question.” - Cassie Abel. Here at Wild Rye we strive to do more, be more, and care more. We have vowed to continuously support our community, lessen our impact on the planet, and protect the places we play and love. To us, this isn’t just about doing the bare minimum to say we are “sustainable.” It is about walking the walk and constantly striving to better ourselves, our company, and our mission.
WRITTEN BY: REN EGNEW
