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Article: What Does B Corp Mean to You?

B Corp Klean Kanteen
Company

What Does B Corp Mean to You?

March 2020 | Words and photos by Klean Kanteen

March is B Corp month and Klean Kanteen is proud to be a Certified B Corp. From the products we make to the nonprofit partnerships we forge and the way we show up in our communities, B Corps are on a mission to make a positive impact in the world. Every employee at Klean, regardless of position or tenure, is encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas to help the company grow and evolve. We asked a couple members of our team what working for a B Corp means to them.

What is a B Corp?

Certified B Corporations are businesses that balance purpose and profit. B Corp is short for Benefit Corporation. Certified B Corporations are social enterprises verified by B Lab, a nonprofit organization. B Lab certifies companies based on how they create value for non-shareholding stakeholders, such as their employees, the local community, and the environment. It is a legal certification that businesses can choose, instead of becoming an LLC or a C Corp, which requires them to submit an annual benefit report to their shareholders. Where C Corps are mandated to prioritize profit for their shareholders, B Corps are obligated to prioritize people and planet at the same level as profits.

What being a B Corp means to Klean Kanteen:

For Klean Kanteen, being a B Corp means putting our community and our planet first. It means making products that won’t pollute the planet, giving back through programs like 1% for the Planet, committing to going Climate Neutral, and working together with nonprofit partners in our communities to forge meaningful relationships. One of the most exciting aspects of our business is getting to work with amazing partners who take action every day to make this planet a better place for all living beings.

Zerin Coyl, Klean Kanteen

Zerin, Klean Customer Service Specialist

Abbi Karge, Klean Kanteen

Abbi, Klean Marketing Specialist

Working for a B Corp means I can honestly tell our customers and my friends and family that I work for a company that stands by its values of sustainability and ethical business policies. I'm proud to work for a company whose values align with my own and am confident that my work contributes to Klean Kanteen's positive way of doing business. - Zerin

Whether you are a business owner, an employee, or a consumer—your choices have the power to make an impact. By supporting B Corps, you can build a personal awareness and interaction with the issues that matter most to you.

We hope this annual celebration of of the B Corp model sparks a need to dive deeper and to learn more about the ways we can all help our communities and environment through the businesses we choose to support.

More About B Corp

Working for a B Corp has always given me a sense of pride. Klean Kanteen has continuously taken an extra step to ensure transparency for all of their consumers and employees. I love being able to tell my friends and family that I work for a company that goes the extra mile for people and the planet in everything they do." - Abbi

Klean Kanteen is a Certified B Corporation

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