Going Green - What is a B Corporation?

B Corps are a new type of corporation that use the power of business to address social and environmental problems. Certified B Corporations meet transparent and comprehensive standards of social and environmental performance and legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests. In addition, by uniting together as B Corporations, they amplify the voice of sustainable business and for-profit social enterprise. There are currently over 200 certified B Corporations from over 30 industries, representing $1 billion in collective revenues and $6.5 billion in capital under management.

Unfortunately, California is one of 19 states that do not yet allow corporations to consider stakeholder interests. As a B Corp in California, we have committed to amending our corporate governing documents to include stakeholder interests once the law permits us to do so. According to Deborah Hirsh from B Labs (the non-profit that coordinates the certification), changes in state legislation in 2010 may facilitate this process, and additional efforts are underway to create a new corporate form for companies in California that have met high and transparent social and environmental standards.

Uplifting Green is watching and reviewing B Corporations.

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Greenerprinter USA is the first commercial printer in the country to obtain their B corporation status. Established in 1988, Greenerprinter opened the first digital color shop in Berkeley, California. They are driven to excellence by offering cutting edge solutions for their customers through educating and enabling customers to think ahead and design their marketing material with the end result in mind through thinking through the customers ideas by designing backwards and designing piece that incorporate multiple purposes. They are industry leaders in taking action by providing recycled paper, soy based inks, digital proofing processes and helping their customers mail their final pieces through up to date mailing lists that target their specific audience therefore reducing everyones carbon footprint.

Designers should take heed and work with Greenerprinters as they are a company that truly embraces and understands the impact that the printing industry has on the environment. Working together designers and printers can make a significant impact in reducing the amount trees needed to make paper and the water that is used in the manufacturing process.

Greenerprinter
2800 Seventh St.
Berkeley, Ca 94710
1-866-978-8547 - toll free
(510) 898-0000 - ph
(510) 898-0011 - fax