Environmental Innovations, B Corp, participating in community events

In 2019, Environmental Innovations, Inc. became a Public Benefit Corporation. This means our work prioritizes benefiting people, the planet, and then profit. Shortly thereafter, we joined a growing international movement by getting certified as a B Corp.

Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.Certified B Corporation.

This certification required us to examine how we interact as a team and as community members. Since we are seasoned sustainability professionals, we already accomplished significant strides in minimizing our environmental footprint and had the data to prove it. However, through conducting the B Lab Impact Assessment, we realized that we wanted to do more to look after our team members and our community. We expanded employee benefits to better support our team and started a social impact 401k investment plan while showing other businesses how to do the same. Pro-bono work became a focus where our community and clients needed it most. To amplify our impact, we developed discounted rates for communities requiring greater equity. As a team, we also volunteered locally, participating in river cleanups, delivering food, and assisting shelters—wherever help was needed and inspired us.

Each year, we choose our charitable giving strategy together as a team. This year, we wanted to focus on pandemic and fire relief for those who needed it most, especially farm workers. We also wanted to address homelessness and support a group that feeds homeless locally and has chapter nationally. In previous years, we have given to charities addressing environmental justice issues, community sustainability, meals for those in need, and homelessness.

This work gives us surprising secondary and tertiary benefit. When we decide together how to help others, we strengthen our team. This work makes us grateful for what we do and gives us a sense of purpose and abundance that we share with others, even in lean years. We’ve realized that we always want to be a part of the solution. Our work will always be purpose driven. If you are interested in our journey in becoming a B Corp and want to learn more, contact us.