Deciphering Certifications
Each certification means something a little bit different. By knowing what each certification means, you can better identify the values of the company when you're shopping.
Certified B Corp
To achieve Certified B Corp status is a strenuous process that includes an inventory of an entire company's practices. From the mission, the treatment of workers, the community support, the environmental footprint, and the service of the customers, the Certified B Corp status is the gold standard of showing off a businesses' intention to do business differently and make a positive impact.
1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a movement of businesses pledging to offer 1% of their annual sales directly to *vetted* global-improvement initiatives. This allows businesses to financially support their values while focusing their sales in their current markets. Not all of the initiatives funded by 1% for the Planet are directly environmental, some include reproductive health services and educational improvements.
This certification does not directly speak to the environmental footprint of the business, only their financial responsibility afterward.
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Climate Neutral
Climate Neutrality can be achieved in two ways: a business can either reduce their carbon footprint to zero (meaning they create as much carbon waste as they reduce) or they can purchase the carbon offsets to "pay for" their carbon waste. Either way, this sets a company apart by noting they are doing their best to reduce the hole in our ozone and global warming as a whole.
Fair Trade
In many countries, workers are not paid a living wage for the work they do and are often subject to inhumane working conditions. Both Fair Trade USA and Fair Trade International aim to improve the livelihoods of farmers and workers by offering a fair wage to employees, guaranteeing safe working environments, allotting required breaks, and supporting community development iniatives.
