Explore the Impact

Read about the contributions of B Local CT and our members across the state.

SPOTLIGHT: RAINBOW WALL NON-ALCOHOLIC BREW

12-3-2025

Named after one of Athletic Brewing Company's favorite climbs in Red Rock Canyon, Rainbow Wall is their annual Pride Month brew. It's a slightly hazy and hugely flavorful, citrus-forward Blood Orange IPA….

The company brewed it in collaboration with pro-LGBTQIA+ climber, Alex Johnson, and with it, they toast the entire LGBTQIA+ community with arms open, belays on, and two words: be you.

In 2023, 100% of Rainbow Wall's profits will go to organizations empowering the LGBTQIA+ community, like The OUT Foundation. Through their efforts, they're removing barriers to access while empowering LGBTQIA+ bodies and minds across the fitness space.

Purchase your limited brew six-pack (or two) today!

SPOTLIGHT: EARTH ANIMAL

9-19-2023

Since 1979, we’ve been developing products that give your animal the best in health and happiness. We offer premium dog food, a range of natural chews, and a full line of wellness products that address the most common ailments...

By Stephanie Volo, Chief Impact Officer, Earth Animal Ventures

1% BENEFITS ALL
Our B Corp Certification is a testament that backs up our commitment to use 1% of our annual net sales to invest in a more sustainable future for all Earth Animals. READ MORE.

9-9-2023

by Kerrie McDevitt, Senior Consultant, Impact Growth Partners

Founders of mission-driven businesses are determined to have a positive impact on the world through their products or services and by the way they run their businesses and interact with their communities. But how can they ensure the detailed operational aspects of their business are also informed by social and environmental goals? Because the early stages of establishing a company involve so many decisions, it can be overwhelming to consider all of this.

What if a roadmap existed to guide you more easily through the process and help you make the “right” decisions for the betterment of your company and ultimately the world at large? Well, there is one such map. It’s called the B Impact Assessment and it is sponsored by the nonprofit B Lab.

Companies in operation for more than one year can pursue B Corp Certification through this assessment. B Corp Certification is based on a company’s performance on the B Impact Assessment (BIA), which asks questions about a company’s past fiscal year. This means that companies with less than one year of operations are not yet eligible for full B Corp Certification. These startups, however, are able to pursue “Pending B Corp” status if they so choose. Early stage companies do not need to become Pending B Corps, however, in order to pursue B Corp Certification later.

As B Lab states: “Above all, startups hoping to become Certified B Corporations should focus on building a great business! Remember, the first rule of mission-driven business is ‘no margin, no mission.’

Acting with Stakeholders in Mind
Having a positive impact pathway is particularly important for startups launching now, when the world is carefully watching how they lead on any number of significant issues, from climate change to racial inequity to flexible worker policies. Startups may not know what operations or policies are proven to have the best and biggest impact, but the BIA is designed to help them identify options.

Making It Legal
This status is a clear signal to all stakeholders that the company is committed to social and environmental matters, and the legal requirement will ensure that this commitment is protected under the law. By pursuing Pending B Corp status early, a startup establishes itself with a legal commitment to take into consideration all stakeholders by registering as a benefit corporation or incorporating B Lab specified legal language into its corporate governing documents.

By joining the B Corp community from an early stage of development, a company joins a community of like-minded, mission-driven companies. On many levels, this support system can help a company during both thriving and trying times — something that all companies could use, especially now.

Hartford Business Journal

7-24-2023

Nearly a decade after CT established benefit corporation legal structure, few companies embrace it

KICKING OFF SUMMER WITH THE BREW CREW

6-7-2023

Yesterday, businesses and individuals throughout Connecticut kicked off the summer with an exciting evening of beer sensory and tasting, tours, and socializing at Athletic Brewing Company's newest facility and HQ in Milford, CT….

By Runa Knapp, Co-Founder of FoundHer LLC

HOW TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BOOK PUBLISHING

6-6-2023

by Jenn T. Grace, Founder and CEO of Publish Your Purpose

The US publishing industry sells approximately 900 million books a year. Have you ever wondered what the environmental impact of all that printed paper is? From shiny, glossy color-printed children’s books to hardcovers that never get sold, the environmental impact of book publishing is significant. Here’s what you need to know and some ways that publishers are reducing their impact—and if you’re an author, your publishing choices and demands matter.

According to Green Matters, the US publishing industry emits over 40 million tons of carbon dioxide and cuts down 32 million trees a year to turn into books. And that’s just the United States. The Independent estimates that 8.5 billion books are sold each year in the world (with 4.7 billion coming from Western countries).

When it takes one entire tree to print only 25 books, statisticians estimate that over the next decade, 3.4 billion trees will be cut down to meet the demand for book printing

These estimates don’t even include the books that are printed but never sold! And what about books that are thrown out? With 640,000 tons of books being thrown away each year, which comes out to around 320 million books, it’s clear we have a printing waste issue.
When we cut down trees, we disrupt entire ecosystems. Trees provide food and shelter to all kinds of living things. But even beyond this, every tree that is cut down releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere because it disrupts the tree’s natural carbon capture.
Environmentalists have lots of ideas when it comes to ways to mitigate this excessive waste in the book publishing industry.

Use 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

The #1 best way for publishers to reduce their carbon footprint, according to Greenpeace, is to replace virgin fiber with 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
The Green Press Initiative (GPI) is a nonprofit program that focuses on preserving forests by helping US book publishers maximize their use of post-consumer recycled paper. The impact of this can be seen in the printing of the New York Times bestseller Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle. By using recycled paper for 200,000 copies, Tolle was able to save around 1,300 full-grown trees. Using recycled paper also reduced the amount of paper in landfills.
Dear Environmentally Aware Author: Consider asking your publisher to print your books on post-consumer recycled paper.
If you’re publishing with a traditional publisher, you won’t be able to influence the number of books that are printed of your new book. But pressuring the publisher to use 100% post-consumer recycled paper can make a big difference.

Print On Demand
One benefit of publishing your book with a hybrid publisher is that because they are a smaller publisher, with a unique publishing model, it can be easier to change some of the hardline policies of traditional publishers that contribute negatively to the environment.
As a hybrid publisher ourselves, we are committed to a print-on-demand printing policy.

This means that we only ever print books that are guaranteed to be sold—reducing the likelihood of excess, unsold books being thrown out significantly.
When we publish a new book, we usually start with a limited print run of between 500 and 1,000 books. Then, we print books on a purchase-by-purchase basis. If we can reduce the number of pages that are printed unnecessarily, we can prevent a lot of the waste that is fueling this environmental crisis in the publishing industry.
Dear Environmentally Aware Author: Make sure that print-on-demand is included in your contract when you are vetting a potential publisher. Check out our9 Questions to Ask a Publisher with more publisher vetting recommendations.
Read E-Books
There’s nothing better than holding a new book in your hands, turning that first crisp page, and diving into the world the author has created. And if you’re anything like us, you prefer to hold a physical book in your hands than to scroll through the pages symbolically on a screen tablet. But could reading on an e-reader save trees?

Well, it depends. To make an e-reader, no paper is used, but plastics derived from petrochemicals and minerals and metals are, some of which are toxic to the earth and people. The process also produces 66 pounds of carbon dioxide and an estimated 299 liters of water.

The total carbon footprint of an e-reader is 370 pounds. When a printed book’s carbon footprint is around 16.5 pounds, that means that you would need to read 22-23 books on an e-reader to offset the environmental impact of a printed book.

All this to say that you can reduce your carbon footprint by reading over 23 books, ever. This offset “clock” resets when you purchase a new e-reading device, so limit yourself to one if you can. And don’t buy an e-reader, and never use it.
Dear Environmentally Aware Author: Whether you’re self-publishing or working with a hybrid publisher, make sure you factor in time and resources to convert your manuscript into e-reader format (ePUB). Check out our Book Cost Blueprint, which can help answer questions about the different cost requirements of different book formats
Work With a Local Printer
Our publishing house works with local printers to prevent unnecessary carbon emissions caused by shipping. For example, if an author is interested in selling copies of their books at conferences or client events, we can find and partner with a printer in their area to have the copies available for pickup by the author.
Dear Environmentally Aware Author: See if your preferred publisher has a local printing option.
Your Publishing House Matters
If you’re an author trying to decide which publisher to go with, do your research into the publisher’s printing policies and ask questions about their environmental stewardship.
As a small hybrid publisher, we make it a priority to print only the amount of books that will be used. We’re also a Certified B Corporation, which means we must meet high standards of transparency, social and environmental performance, and accountability as determined by the nonprofit B Lab. The certification process is rigorous and ongoing (with a recertification requirement every three years).
Yet, we recognize that there is still a gap between our reality and our environmental goals. (We were even hesitant to even write this blog post!) Ultimately, we decided that knowledge is power. While our imperfection runs deep we also know we have lots of room to grow and create a better future—and we want to do that with you. By sharing where we are on this journey to make our printing practices more sustainable, we hope to motivate ourselves, authors, readers, and other publishers to continue to do better.

WOMEN OWNED B-CORPS FOCUSED ON IMPACT ACROSS ALL STAKEHOLDERS

3-3-2023

The movement around corporations and entrepreneurs who are using business as a force for good has grown over the years. According to B Lab statistics of self-reported data, approximately 40% of US-based B Corps are currently operated and run by women…..

By Runa Knapp, Chief Business Development Officer of FoundHer

The Produce Moms®, an influencer brand with a mission to get more fruits and vegetables on every table, leverages its content platform and brand partnerships to educate consumers on the benefits of eating fresh produce, the growing process, and how to select, store, and serve fresh food.

"I felt strongly that this concept of educating people online about fruits and vegetables could do amazing things and make a difference not just for household moms like myself, but for every stakeholder in the supply chain," explains Lori Taylor, CEO, and Founder of The Produce Moms®.

Clients are evaluated on criteria such as payment of fair labor wages, practices around protecting the environment and implementing sustainable practices, amongst others. But just as important as the selection of the suppliers and the produce they produce is the messaging to consumers.

CEO Maria Uspenski of The Tea Spot, a leading tea brand for healthy hydration, adds, "We insist on the highest standards of food safety and quality from all of our sources and vendors. And, as a Colorado-based Public Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp, our company donates 10% of all profits for wellness."

FoundHer, an entrepreneurial women-owned recruiting firm, follows a similar sentiment to The Produce Moms® and The Tea Spot when evaluating their own "supply-chain."

Knapp adds, "We hold ourselves to the same standards we look for in our clients. As a purpose-driven business, we seek out diverse and/or women-owned small businesses for our own vendor needs such as legal, marketing, PR, etc. Just as we hope prospective clients will see our value-add, we are mindful of providing the same opportunities to others like ourselves."

By building loyalty within the supply chain, Knapp, Taylor, and Uspenski have seen increases in profits, repeat clients, and meaningful engagement at events and on social media, resulting in real impact.

With women leading the charge, there will no doubt be countless other businesses sprouting up to continue fueling the force for good.

Westfair Business Journal

10-31-2022

New endeavor seeks to expand B Corp Certifications