The Change We Seek: Nine Certified B Corporations Named America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs 2011 by Bloomberg BusinessWeek

kristyGlobal Citizen

Nine Certified B Corporations have been named by Bloomberg’s BusinessWeek as ‘America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs’ of 2011. Azavea, Change.org, Dimagi, Emory Knoll Farms, Freelancers Insurance Company, Greyston Bakery, Nest Collective, Re:Vision Architecture and World Centric are all recognized this year as leaders in this growing sector of mission-driven businesses. The nine honorees this year represent diverse industries from insurance to green building and consumer products to health care technology.

B Corporations have represented 31% of ‘America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs’ since BusinessWeek began recognizing these leaders three years ago. Eleek, Napo Pharmaceuticals, DripTech, Mobis (Bikestation), The Redwoods Group, Source 44 and Sustainable Harvest were named in 2010. Better World Books, CleanFish, Fair Trade Sports, Ice Stone, Impact Makers, PhilanTech and SVT Group were included in 2009.

“We are honored that B Corporations continue to be recognized as leaders of this growing movement of social entrepreneurship,” says B Lab co-founder, Jay Coen Gilbert.

Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. To earn certification, B Corps meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and public transparency. There are more than 400 Certified B Corps from over 60 industries. Investors are showing increasing interest in these high-impact businesses. A JPMorgan research report labeled impact investments as an “emerging asset class” with profit potential in the hundreds of billions over the next decade.

See the full list of America’s Most Promising Entrepreneurs 2011 here

B Corps Named in 2011

Azavea – Azavea provides GIS and Mapping Software Development and Geospatial Analysis Services.

Change.org – Change.org is the leading site for social change, providing daily news and information about important social issues and empowering people to take action.

Dimagi – Dimagi is an award-winning, socially-conscious technology company that helps organizations deliver quality health care to urban and rural communities across the world.

Emory Knoll Farms – Emory Knoll Farms’ nursery is the only one in the U.S. entirely devoted to growing plants used in the green roof industry.

Freelancers Insurance Company – Freelancers Insurance Company provides health insurance to independent workers. They’re owned by the Freelancers Union, whose members are their only customers.

Greyston Bakery – The Greyston Bakery is a for-profit enterprise owned by the non-profit Greyston Foundation that has been producing the finest brownies, cakes and tarts for 25 years.

Nest Collective – A company of consumer products brands focused on nourishing babies, toddlers and kids with healthy, organic foods.

Re:Vision Architecture – Re:Vision Architecture (RVA) is an architecture, planning, and consulting firm specializing in sustainable design and development.

World Centric – World Centric provides high quality compostable food service disposables and food packaging products for use in schools, corporate cafeterias, restaurants, hospitals, parties etc.

B Corps Named in 2010

Eleek – Eleek is a sustainable design and manufacturing business specializing in high-style lighting and other decorative building parts. They also offer custom design and manufacturing, as well as lighting restoration and retrofitting services.

Napo Phramaceuticals – CAP Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of Napo Pharmaceuticals, develops and commercializes novel, branded pharmaceuticals to global populations through the establishment of local partnerships.

DripTech – Driptech Inc. designs and manufactures low cost, drip irrigation for small farmers in developing countries.

Mobis (Bikestation) – Bikestation plans, designs, builds, and operates bike-transit centers and other multi-modal facilities.

The Redwoods Group – The Redwoods Group, a privately held socially conscious company, is a commercial specialty insurance provider.

Source 44 – Source 44 provides data services to help companies evaluate and monitor their environment impact.

Sustainable Harvest – Sustainable Harvest is one of the highest volume importers of organic and fair-trade coffee in North America.

B Corps Named in 2009

Better World Books – Better World Books is an online book retailer and social enterprise.

CleanFish – CleanFish specializes in providing top quality seafood that is delicious, safe & sustainable – fish you can trust™.

Fair Trade Sports – Fair Trade Sports, Inc sells Fair Trade, FSC Certified sports balls for soccer, football, basketball, rugby, volleyball, and more.

IceStone – IceStone LLC manufactures high-design durable surfaces from 100% recycled glass and cement that are used in kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities and flooring.

Impact Makers – Impact Makers delivers IT and management consulting professional services, focused on the healthcare industry.

PhilanTech – PhilanTech provides online grants management systems that enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency.

SVT Group – SVT Group is a strategic impact advisory firm that helps investors and organizations manage impact.

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B the Change,
The Team at B Lab

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B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

Copyright 2011 B Lab, Inc. a non-profit organization www.bcorporation.net