Soapbox Engage Blog

As a B Corp, PICnet knows the importance of putting people and environment before profits. So we always get excited when more companies join the ranks.  

Each quarter, B Lab, the nonprofit organization that supports and fosters businesses to solve social and environmental problems, holds a State of the B Corp address where they update all the B Corps on what success they've had in the last quarter. And from last week's call, I can tell you that B Corps had a banner 2012!

Here are some highlights:

• B Lab held a Champion's Retreat in October 2012 in California where B Corporations from all over the United States gathered for two days of brainstorming and discussion on how to continue the momentum of the B Corp movement - over 300 people attended
• 72 businesses became B Corps in Quarter 4 of 2012 alone, including Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
• B Corps received almost triple the press hits in 2012 (663) than in 2011 (230)
• There are more than 670 B Corps
• B Corps are growing internationally with 124 B Corps located outside the United States in 24 different countries

But wait - there's more! B Lab also shared a sneak peak of what's in store for B Corps in 2013 including:

• The release of an annual B Corp Index that compares us to other sustainable businesses
• Best for the World honors to various B Corps in the topics of Best for the Environment, Best for Communities, and Best for Workers in addition to Best Overall
• Partnering with Climate Ride, a series of charitable bike rides that support sustainable energy solutions and environmental causes, for two rides to raise awareness of B Corporations and what we do. One will be on the West Coast (May 19 - 23) and one on the East Coast (September 21 - 25).

Needless to say, B Corps have been busy, busy, bumble bees. And you can be sure that their work will continue to be even more amazing in 2013!