How Businesses Can Embed Their Values Into Their DNA
B The Change Weekly: August 12, 2022
Delivered on Fridays, B The Change Weekly provides the most important and most relevant stories about people using business as a force for good. The newsletter features a weekly note from the B The Change team alongside insight and context on the stories we share here on Medium. Below is our latest roundup. To receive these insights directly in your inbox, sign up for B The Change Weekly today. Now on to the good stuff:
As one of five stakeholder areas of focus for Certified B Corporations, governance can seem a bit dry on its surface compared to the environment, workers, customers, and community. But this legal aspect of B Corps — adopting bylaws and structures that ensure their business operations align with their values and goals — sets the framework for long-term positive impact.
What does this look like in practice? An organization that develops and revises a statement condemning the Ukraine War. A company founded to help Native communities make the transition to clean energy. And Best for the World B Corps prioritizing transparency and accountability in their operations. In a variety of ways, these organizations and businesses are living their values now and protecting them for the future.
5 B Corps Using Accountability and Transparency to Advance Their Mission
By incorporating their mission into the DNA of their company, B Corps recognized as Best for the World in 2022 for excelling in governance demonstrate how to protect their long-term vision and reinforce their commitment to social and environmental good. Learn how five B Corps in the U.S. and Canada are engaging employees, board members, and community in their mission through transparency and communication to live their values now and protect them for the future.
A Real-World Lesson on the Importance of Linking Action to Purpose
Businesses and organizations are increasingly expected to speak out about social and environmental issues, leaving some leaders unsure how best to proceed. Jury Gualandris, Director of the Network for Business Sustainability, explains how he and others developed — and later revised — a statement condemning the Ukraine War, and why it’s important for actions like this to spring from an organization’s values or purpose.
How to Make a Clean Energy Transition That Benefits All
As a benefit corporation, Navajo Power is organized around the company’s core principles, which include a mission to maximize the community benefits of its projects, democratize clean energy for all, and weave respect and cultural competency into the development process. CEO and Co-Founder Brett Isaac shares how the company’s work to transition to clean energy also advances equity and sustainability.
Stay in the Know
Here’s your chance to catch up on recent articles:
- 2022 Best for the World Governance: B Corps That Embed Their Values Into Their DNA: 5 Companies Using Accountability and Transparency to Advance Their Mission
- How the Model Contract Clauses Can Help B Corps Implement Responsible Sourcing Practices: A New Resource to Help Ensure Human Rights Due Diligence in Business Contracting
- Is It Possible to Change Culture Through Fashion? Companies Can Lead the Change Through Responsible and Purpose-Driven Branding and Practices
- How Organizations Can Respond to a Global Crisis: A Real-World Lesson on the Importance of Linking Action to Purpose
- How to Make a Clean Energy Transition That Benefits All: A Tribal-Owned Power Company Brings Clean and Equitable Energy to Communities
B The Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
