ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve just gained certification as a B Corporation!

For those who don’t know what a B Corporation is, they are organizations certified by the non-profit organization B Lab, to meet rigorous standards of accountability, transparency, and social and environmental performance. It’s a corporate standard – think Fairtrade coffee or LEED construction.

At the root of B Corp philosophy, is the triple bottom line – meaning a corporation is not just held accountable for maximizing profits for shareholders and shareholder ROI, it’s about ensuring that a positive social and environmental impact is included in the bottom line. It is possible to run a business, make money and be a force of positive change for all your stakeholders including your employees, suppliers, community, and the environment. As B Lab puts it, it’s not just about being the best in the world; it’s about being the best FOR the world.

There’s no doubt that social and environmental issues have found their way into the marketing of many organizations. But B Corp status is different. B Corp status serves as certification by an independent third party to ensure corporations are doing exactly what they claim! This intensive certification process brings a reliable standard that’s applicable across numerous industries – giving consumers a clear choice as to which organizations share their values and thus are worthy of supporting.

Realize is the first in its field in Vancouver to become a Certified B Corporation. We’re confident that this will bring new opportunities to move further along the path with other organizations that share our values.

We want to be the change we seek. And we want to help organizations across BC advance their own sustainability and revenue innovations. As Esquire Magazine put it, “B Corps might turn out to be like civil rights for blacks or voting rights for women – eccentric, unpopular ideas that took hold and changed the world.”

Let’s cross our fingers!