I recently attended a discussion with other CEOs at the New Hampshire Business for Social Responsibility’s (NHBSR) annual conference. Many attendees came from companies that are Certified B Corporations. Author, Ryan Honeyman said it well in his introduction of The B Corp Handbook; “the B stands for “benefit”, and as a community, B Corporations want to build a new sector of the economy in which the race to the top isn’t to be the best in the world but to be the best for the world”.
This book provides testaments of Certified B Corp companies who make a long-term commitment for positive social impact that benefits everyone. I had the pleasure of listening to Senator Jean Shaheen’s short address to a crowd of 300 attendees. Afterwards, a panel of Certified B Corp CEOs answered various questions about their actions of social responsibility and leadership in their communities, explaining how they are making changes.
Various efforts made by Certified B Corporations have already been implemented by all of us here, at Northeast Delta Dental. We have installed energy efficient lights inside of our buildings and in our parking lots, our purchase of the Angwin Property behind our One Delta Drive location preserves the nearby ecosystem reminding us of the geese that find refuge on Horseshoe Pond every spring along with the duck population throughout the summer, and provides our employees with Nordic ski trails in the winter months to continue promoting health and wellness. My colleagues take part in assisting disadvantaged individuals by having regular volunteer presence at The Friendly Kitchen in our neighborhood, and save money by implementing electronic claims submissions making processing faster and easier.
Much like Certified B Corporations, my leadership role with Northeast Delta Dental has been a long-term vision as a business stakeholder invested in cultivating “the best for the world”. I encourage you to read The B Corp Handbook to see how your business can take part in The Certified B Corp Global Movement.
