The first step in becoming a better business is to measure what matters. We believe businesses should not only focus on generating returns but also on creating value for its customers, employees, community and the environment. Start by taking B Lab’s free impact assessment to see where you stand and how you can improve. Below, you will find additional resources to guide you through the process.

Connect with The Alliance Center

Connect with us at bestforcolorado@thealliancecenter.org to discuss next steps based on your assessment. If you are an aspiring B Corp, we recommend you connect with the non-profit B Local Colorado, the B Certified B Corp network in Colorado.

B Lab Resources

Best For Colorado uses the same assessment as the B Corp certification. Therefore, the resources provided by B Lab, the organization behind B Corp, are useful even if you don’t intend to go for the certification.

B Lab Webinar

Gain tools for increasing your impact in the areas of governance, workers, environment and community while simultaneously improving your score on the BIA. Access the webinar here.

Ryan Honeyman’s Resources

Download this Google Drive file for example policies, procedures and templates to improve your impact and business practices from Ryan Honeyman, a sustainability consultant, executive coach, keynote speaker and author of The B Corp Handbook: How to Use Business as a Force for Good. 

Pet Sustainability Coalition 

The Pet Sustainability Coalition is dedicated to creating a more sustainable pet industry. Even if you are not directly in the pet industry, they offer great resources such as employee survey or code of conduct that can be useful even if you are not in the pet industry. 

Why don’t people vote? They don’t have enough time. By encouraging voter participation and offering employees time off to vote, the business community can take a non-partisan approach to address the most significant issues of our time. Find organizations assisting with this movement below.

Time to Vote: Time to Vote is a nonpartisan movement, led by the business community, to contribute to the culture shift needed to increase voter participation in our country’s elections. aci

Environmental Voters Project: This project ams to significantly increase voter demand for environmental leadership by identifying inactive environmentalists and then turning them into consistent activists and voters. 

Check out The Alliance Center’s calendar to learn more about the theme and the dates of The Alliance Center’s 2020 Climate+ Democracy Speaker Series.

Corporate citizenship programs enable companies to contribute back to the communities in which they operate, in addition to the traditional economic value they provide. Establishing a corporate citizenship program builds teamwork among employees, exemplifies company values of leadership and service and creates personal bonds within the community. In the resources below, you will find examples of ways your company can take part in civic engagement.

Find tangible examples of inspiring Best for Colorado companies in our Company Spotlights page. Make sure to check out our Actionable Impacts, where you will find examples of Best for Colorado companies using business as a force for good.

Whether your goal is to take a political stand with your brand or engage employees in civic activity, there are many ways for you company to get involved in civic engagement. Check out the following resources to learn how your company can make a difference.

Good Business Colorado Association is the voice of values driven businesses committed to a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Colorado. 

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors and others who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment.

B Lab x UN Global Compact Resource: The Ambition Loop – How Business and Government Can Advance Policies that Fast Track Zero-Carbon Economic Growth is resource guide exemplifying how a positive feedback loop in which bold Government policies and private sector leadership reinforce each other, and together, take climate action to the next level. 

Time to Vote is a nonpartisan movement, led by the business community, to contribute to the culture shift needed to increase voter participation in our country’s elections.

As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, America gets just one chance each decade to count its population. Census data, collected every 10 years, determines your representation in congress and how funds are spent in your community on public goods such as roads, schools and hospitals. Businesses are a trusted voice in our community you can play a role by raising awareness on this initiative among your network. Raise awareness and promote census participation among your network with the resources below.

Toolkit 2020 Census: Find outreach guidelines and census jobs.

United States Census Bureau Partnership Opportunities: Partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to support the accurate collection, interpretation and dissemination of data for this year’s decennial census.

United States Census Bureau Outreach Materials and Resources: Download outreach materials and share with your network.

Promotional Material and Guidelines from the United States Census Bureau: Find additional outreach material here.

By properly managing your supply chain, your business will have a big impact. The objective of supply chain sustainability is to create, protect and grow long-term environmental, social and economic value for all stakeholders involved in bringing products and services to market. Ensure that your supply chain is in line with your values. Below you will find guides and example questionnaires to better manage and improve your supply chain.

Examples

Supplier sustainability survey example

Supplier sustainability survey (small business) example

Guides

Learn about evaluating supplier’s and distributor’s social and environmental practices here. 

Learn about managing impact within your supply chain in this guide: Creating Impact Through Purchasing.

Learn how businesses can enhance their resilience to the impacts of climate change on their supply chains, while improving their supply chain management  here.

A supplier code of conduct can reduce brand risk for the company and can be leveraged to improve transparency and marketing. It also can allow suppliers to adhere to more uniform standards that might also be asked of other customers, easing the cost burden of compliance. Check out B Lab ‘s guide to creating a supplier code of conduct. 

Learn how Teatulia Organic Teas, a Certified B Corporation, incorporates CSR and transparency into their supply chain in this case study. 

Community service is a great way to engage employees, encourage teamwork and cultive a meaningful company culture. Volunteerism in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important factor contributing to higher employee recruitment and intention.

B Lab’s Community Service Reference Sheet

When a worker base grows, its capacity for generating revenue increases. A growing company can improve efficiencies through economies of scale or increase its overall market share. Identify your lowest paid wage and compare it to a recognized third-party living wage standard, such as those identified below.

In the United States, you can use the MIT Living Wage Calculator to find the appropriate wage based on the local cost of living.

Inclusive hiring practices widens the pool of applicants and attracts top talent to organizations. Leaders practicing inclusive hiring understand that education and previous work experience are not the only predictors of individual potential.

Make the change to skills-based practices to avoid bias in your recruiting practices : Learn how to tackle bias in your recruiting process on developing skill based hiring practices with Skillful.

Explore some neutral hiring practices such as blind review:. The blind review process eliminates identification details from resumes and applications such as; name, gender, ethnic background, education, age, and personal interests to avoid potential biases in the recruiting process. Check out this resource from Workable on creating a blind hiring process.

Include an Equal Employment Opportunity Statement for job posting. For example: 

1. [Company Name] provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

2. [Company Name] is committed to building an organization that celebrates diversity and embodies inclusivity. We encourage and desire applicants from all backgrounds, ethnicities and walks of life to join our team and help grow a more inclusive sustainability movement that truly serves all people. [Company Name] provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Make an impact at every step of your company’s operations. From vendor selection and hiring procedures to philanthropy and energy resources, where you invest your money matters. Banking with values-aligned banks is one way to use your own finances to support positive social and environmental impact. Below you will find examples of some unconventional banking options.

Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund’s mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting the growth and capacity of a national network of community development lenders, investors and financial service providers. To find out if your bank is a certified CDFI click here.

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values is an independent network of banks using finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. To find out if your bank is a member click here.

To find a local credit union in the United States, click here. 

Collective Commitment to Climate Action is a groundbreaking pledge banks are taking to align their business with international climate goals into practice. Learn more here on the pledge and the banks taking action visit.