When it comes to sustainability, Canadians haven’t had a lot to cheer for in recent months. Becoming the first nation to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol and the increasing polarization of citizens across the country over pipeline development proposals to expand the tar sands, Canada’s business climate is in question.
Quietly behind the scenes there’s a responsible business movement afoot to redefine how business is done in Canada. This may be the biggest change you haven’t heard about, till now.
These Founding Canadian B Corporations are a new breed of company, certified by the non-profit B Lab, for their positive impact on the community, employees, consumers and the environment.
What makes this certification unique isn't just the comprehensive performance requirement for “good” a company must achieve, but the added requirement that these companies go further, amending their governing documents with a statement that their business shall consider stakeholder interests when making business decisions.
There are now 39 Founding B Corporations in Canada, with 27 new companies certifying in the past 12 months. These companies range from small-sized consultancies, to multi-million dollar manufacturers like DIRTT Environmental Solutions.
"As a founding Canadian B Corp, our B Corp Status validates that we take action and walk the talk. In order to serve our clients and the communities we work in effectively, it is critical that we demonstrate and live what we believe and support our clients in doing.We are proud to be a member of an ever growing group of companies in Canada and the United States that are taking social engagement and corporate responsibility to a whole new level."
Warren Te Brugge, Manzimvula's CEO and Founder.
Spanning 25 industries, from Bullfrog Power (renewable energy), Ethical Bean and Salt Spring Coffee (beverages), Ian Martin Group (Job Placement), to Renewal2 (impact investing). These companies are diverse and competitive in both local markets and in the US.
“B Corp offers a recognizable form and language to businesses prioritizing people and planet alongside financial profits. Canadians increasingly care about the values of the companies we buy goods and services from. B Corp certification adds valuable information to the decision about how to align each dollar spent with personal values.”
Joel Solomon, Chairman Renewal2
B Corporations emerged in the U.S. in 2007 and now total over 500. They’ve enabled the creation of Benefit Corporation legislation, a new corporate form in 7 states, most recently in California and New York, wherein a company can legally form with a express purpose to have a material positive impact on people and the environment. Outdoor apparel company, Patagonia, was amongst to first to opt for this new corporate status in California.
Toronto based MaRS Centre for Impact Investing is at the helm for efforts in Canada, currently helping companies certify in Ontario, launching the Social Venture Exchange, and finalizing a white paper on Benefit Corporation legislation for the federal government.
"We are excited to be in the middle of the growing Canadian B Corp movement. The amount of interest we are now receiving marks the beginning of a changing landscape for businesses in Canada."
Allyson Hewitt Director, Social Entrepreneurship, SiG@MaRS
“We first learned about B Corporations at a Social Finance Venture fair back in 2008. At the time, we were trying to determine if we should be a for-profit or non-profit organization and were struggling as neither model properly fit our purpose. The B Corp model resonated with our challenge and we immediately tried to figure out if we could do this in Canada. With the help of the team at MaRS, we pulled together a legal committee and figured out how to do it in 2009.”
Mark Bachman, Co-founder, Better the World, Canada’s first B Corporation.
Estimates state that over 40,000 values-based companies exist in North America, with nearly 40 B Corps now in Canada, this could just be the beginning of a very large movement.
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Manzimvula® is a consulting practice and a Certified B Corporation, that works with our clients on sustainability and corporate responsibility issues with a specialty focus on indigenous and aboriginal people and then, as community engagement practitioners, we go into the field with them and put initiatives into action to help them accomplish their goals. To stimulate ingenuity and create growth, we work alongside our clients, guiding them through our Purposeful Path to Sustainability Program™ utilizing our Integrative Strategy Approach™ to help them engage their organization at a deeper level to understand mindset and create alignment with core strategies and principles.
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Media contact:
Dermot Hikisch
415.595.3963
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