Published August 26, 2015
Proud to be a B Corp
Becoming a B Corp: A letter from our CEO
Greetings and Good News, Herd!
As most of you may already know, Elephants Delicatessen has been in the process of becoming a Certified B Corporation for over two years. It has been an edifying and humbling endeavor, one that recognizes our achievements in sustainable practices, establishes a new baseline for further pursuit of our mission and practices, and brings us into a select community of like-minded, progressive businesses around the world.
We just heard that it is now officially official: We are a B Corporation! The term excitement does not begin to capture our feelings on B Corp certification.
As with any new endeavor, questions will (and should!) arise, and what better place to start than with the most obvious…
What is a Certified B Corporation?
B Corps (as they are referred to in shortened form) are businesses that consider all elements of their business activities in terms more than just the bottom dollar or maximization of profitability. Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and environment. B Corps are companies that have been certified to have met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency in all facets of their enterprise. B Certification is similar to Fair Trade, the third-party certification most commonly associated with coffee (like our friends at Stumptown Roasters), the key difference being that B Corps are certified not for a specific item but for their overall practices, which in turn is shared with the public at large.
The B Corps community includes such notable companies as New Belgium Brewing, Etsy, Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Dansko, King Arthur Flour, Method, and Cabot Creamery. Two notable local B Corps are A To Z Wineworks and New Seasons.
A huge THANK YOU to Brett Olsen, who has spent countless hours preparing and guiding us through this rigorous process. Russell, Louise, Steve, and Lydia also spent many hours preparing the necessary documentation.
Ultimately, this recognition is the culmination of the efforts of all Elephants employees, past and present. And, of course, the customers and partners who support us. We became a B Corp because it officially validates the vision and practices we’ve had since we started in 1979.
With much gratitude,
Anne
