What you need to know about this letter 'B' on products
Ever noticed a small 'B' logo while shopping and wondered what it meant? The Weather Network's Rachel Schoutsen explains the B Corp certification and how it is earned.
It’s a label you are likely buying: What is this little “B”?
You may not realize it, but this tells a story and holds a lot of value.
Product labels that include the letter "B" inside a circle means it's B Corp certified. (The Weather Network)
That letter “B” represents companies that have passed the B Impact assessment, which is a strict analysis of environmental and social impact.
The certification is valid for three years, and each company's scores are publicly accessible. To represent itself as a B Corp and include the label on its products, a company must achieve a minimum score of 80. After three years, companies can undergo a recertification process, which involves updating their B Impact Assessment and verifying their performance to ensure they continue to meet the high standards for social and environmental impact.
To be certified, businesses need to score at least 80. (B Corporation)
Reunion Coffee Roasters, located in Toronto, Ont., has been a certified B Corp since 2013. The company is committed to integrating sustainability into its core operations.
“We want people to know that by buying this product they are having a positive impact on the world,” says Adam Pesce, president of Reunion Coffee Roasters.
Reunion Coffee Roasters has been B Corp certified for 13 years. (Adam Pesce, left, with The Weather Network reporter Rachel Schoutsen).
Pesce explains that the company integrates sustainability into its core operations by implementing both simple and impactful measures. These include switching all lighting to LED, using only Bullfrog renewable energy, recycling or up-cycling everything that leaves the factory, and planting nearly 1.2 million trees in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We reduced our natural gas consumption by about 35 per cent,” adds Pesce. “And we are actually working on another project that will reduce the emissions by just as much or more again.”
If your business does not meet B Corp standards, like Reunion Coffee, you can still support the movement by incorporating B Corp products into your operations.
The Onyx Salon Collective in Burlington, Ont., does that by carrying B Corp products within the hair salon.
“At our salon, we have partnered with a B Corp company that is called Davines,” owner Amanda Chapman tells The Weather Network. “And the reason why we carry it is because we know Davines is doing so much more than hair products...they are doing the most that they can for the environment and the world. We also work with Nespresso, which has become a B Corp recently. And we also use a B Corp recycling program."
B Lab became known for certifying B Corporations, which are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. (The Weather Network)
Awareness of B Corp is growing, and more Canadian companies are willing to undergo scrutiny to become certified. According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household spends nearly $77,000 annually on goods and services. Now that you know more about B Corp, look for the small "B" logo and rest assured that your money is supporting better causes with every purchase.
Learn more about B Corp certifications in the video that leads this article.