sustainable fashion
Business can be (and arguably should be) used as a force for good. More and more consumers have come to realize that there is “no ethical consumption” under capitalism, meaning no single one of us can possibly shop our way out of corrupt and exploitative business models — which is why the existence of B Corporations is SO important. With the amount of power and influence a corporation has, it has the responsibility to choose good along with profits. How does that happen and why should you care?
What Exactly Are B Corporations?
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Not many people know what B Corporations are, so if you’re in that boat, no worries! Here’s the official definition of a B Corporation:
Certified B Corporations are 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. (Source)
So basically, when you buy from B Corps, you can rest assured that your money is being spent wisely and not supporting exploitative labor or harmful environmental practices. A B Corporation certification is comparable to a Fair Trade certification.
What Sets A B Corp Apart?
Lots of companies nowadays like to tout their “sustainable” practices. But unlike businesses that partake in greenwashing and claim that they have a good business model, B Corps have to undergo a rigorous certification process and they make their results transparent.
B Corporations are tested in 5 categories: accountability, transparency, performance, availability, and cost. You can view test results for different corporations here.
So, what does this look like? Check out this video for a brief, comprehensive overview of what B Corporations look like in practice:
Rather than fitting environmental and social good somewhere into their existing for-profit model (oftentimes just where convenient), B Corps will adjust their whole model around positive impact. B Corporations are committed to being a part of the solution and not creating more problems.
For more info on B Corps and better business initiatives in general, we recommend grabbing a copy of this book!
B Corporations To Keep On Your Radar
Here are some of our favorite B Corps to add to your list of sustainable and ethical companies!
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Not only does Patagonia have incredible outdoor apparel and gear, but they’re also a huge advocate for the environment, which puts them at the top of our list!
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Something that stands out about Leesa is that they donate one mattress for every 10 sold. This kind of social impact from mattress companies is pretty unheard of!
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Frank and Oak is pretty serious about using sustainable materials. They even make their winter boots from coffee waste, which honestly is crazy to me!
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Bombas socks are honestly some of the best socks on the market, but even better is their social impact — they have a “buy one give one” model for their socks and tees, and have donated over 28,900,000 items to homeless shelters!
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Beautycounter has a “never” list, which is comprised of over 1,500 products that are never used in their products. This goes way further than you’ll find with most beauty companies, and we’re here for it!
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I’ve been a fan of Ethique for a while — their solid “beauty bars” seriously reduce so much of the plastic packaging waste that comes with bath products. I take their shampoo bars when I travel and I love them!
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Athleta seriously stands out when it comes to female empowerment — their apparel is all designed by women athletes, and they have over 16,000 female employees!
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Uncommon Goods is committed not only to the environment, but also to their workforce — their lowest paid worker makes at least double minimum wage!
B Corps are pioneers of sustainability and ethical goods, and we are so here for it! Did we miss any of your favorite B Corporations? Let us know in the comments!
For More About Ethical And Sustainable Shopping, You Should Read:
We Need To Get Honest About The Ugly Truth Of The Fashion Industry
The Girlfriend Collective Is About To Be Your New Favorite Sustainable Style Brand
