Klean Kanteen is proud to be a Certified B Corp. We take social responsibility seriously, and that goes beyond one initiative. From the products we make, to the nonprofits we partner with, to the way our customers live their lives...
We are B Corp: Designed with Integrity. Built for Performance.
As a B Corp, our mission is to make a positive impact on the world. It’s about making a difference every day with small, personal actions. Living our values through our purchases and choices. Together, we can change the world with the choices we make. We always ask ourselves: What kind of company do we want to be?
What is a B Corp?
As a Certified B Corp, your business wants to balance purpose and profit . B Corp stands for Benefit Corporation. Certified B Corporations are social enterprises that have been verified by B Lab, a nonprofit organization. B Lab certifies companies based on the value they create for non-shareholder stakeholders, such as their employees, local communities, and the environment.
It’s a legal certification that companies can choose to become instead of becoming an LLC or a C Corp, which require them to file an annual profit report with their shareholders. While C-corps are required to prioritize profits for their shareholders, B-corps are required to prioritize people and the planet at the same level as profits.
Because B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their business decisions on employees, customers, suppliers, communities and the environment, they are setting a new standard and leading a global movement to use business as a force for good. When for-profits harness the power of their businesses, they can quickly build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
With more than 3,200 B Corps in 150 industries and 71 countries worldwide, our shared values are already driving demand for green goods, transparency, and corporate social responsibility. According to the Harvard Business Review, “the landscape of American business is changing” and B Corps are the future.
The B Corp certification is a designation that a company meets high standards of corporate social responsibility. To be certified, a company must:
- Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or higher and passing a risk assessment. Multinationals must also meet basic requirements.
- Enter into a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure. For example, a B Corp is required to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
- Demonstrate transparency by disclosing information about their performance against B Lab's standards on their B Corp profile on B Lab's website.
How do B Corps contribute to a positive impact?
Any brand can label its products as “green,” “natural,” or “eco-friendly,” but there are few ways to enforce or regulate those claims. Organizations like B Lab prevent greenwashing and ensure that the brands they certify are actually making decisions that are good for people and the planet.
Holding companies accountable is hugely important in shifting our economy to a more sustainable, inclusive model that works for everyone, but B Corp doesn’t stop there. In addition to pushing brands to make a positive impact, B Corp initiatives empower customers to make better decisions every day.
As B Lab notes, “People want to work for, buy from, and invest in companies they believe in. B Corp certification is a powerful way to build that credibility, trust, and value.”
How do B Corps contribute to a positive impact?
For Klean Kanteen, B Corp means putting our community and our planet first. It means making products that don’t pollute the planet, giving back through programs like 1% For The Planet, committing to carbon neutrality, and working with nonprofit partners in our communities to build meaningful relationships.
One of the most exciting aspects of our business is working with great partners who take action every day to make this planet a better place for all living things.
Our Nonprofit Outreach Manager, Caroligh Pierce, is proud to work for a B Corp: “It means being part of a movement of brands that look beyond profits and numbers. We have a number to guide our goals and a road map to help us move forward and always improve how we run our business and care for our people.”
Whether you’re a business owner, an employee, or a customer, your choices have an impact. By supporting B Corps, you can build your personal awareness and engagement around the issues that matter to you, and choose to buy into the world you believe in.