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Shared Values, Measurable Impact: Our B Corp Journey

November 28th, 2023 by Lindsey Hague


In a world full of greenwashing and box-checking, we're all in on using Business as a Force for Good. We've joined the ranks of notable companies such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s by securing certification as a B Corp. This recognition signifies the fulfillment of rigorous standards set by B Lab, a nonprofit employing an independent assessment across Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. While the typical company scores 50.9 points, the minimum certification threshold stands at 80 points, and we're proud to announce we have scored 100.4 points on the assessment.

This win is the result of our commitment to Make Every Number Count, creating benchmarks that show ongoing improvement and development. Because when we care about the numbers, we're building a future we can all count on.

Central to B Corp ethos is our commitment to stakeholder value, not just considering profitability and shareholders. We solidified this commitment by becoming a Public Benefit Corporation, legally bound to uphold a public benefit statement. Our commitment revolves around creating spaces that benefit the communities in which we engage in business and creating opportunities (career and otherwise) to help our employees (CEFamily) reach their full potential —an extension of our core purpose of Building Visions and People®.

At the core of substantial certifications or affiliations lies our commitment to transparency. In the context of B Corp, this is underscored by the breakdown of scores into five categories. We exemplify this transparency, with the Worker's category contributing significantly to our cumulative score. Covering aspects such as compensation, benefits, and empowerment, our adherence to a living wage for all employees, quarterly open-door performance discussions, and a commendable high-to-low pay ratio of under 10x (in stark contrast to the US average of 344x) contribute to our stellar Workers score. President/CEO Chris Floyd notes, "[B Corp certification] is a recognition of how we treat our people, and how we care about people. And that's the area, along with the transparency and governance sections, where we really thrived."

Echoing the sentiment of the African proverb, "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together," we not only embody this ethos but actively live it by becoming part of the B Corp community. Through B Corp certification, we align with others that have made their principles and standards clear. Our commitment goes beyond words, extending into active participation in our local B Corp community, B Local Connecticut, underscoring our dedication to collective progress and ethical business practices.

In joining the B Corp community, we align with a collective commitment to not just talk about ethical standards but to turn those principles into tangible, measurable impacts. The importance of measurable metrics cannot be overstated in the pursuit of authentic and lasting change. Having a clear purpose is the starting point, but what really sets us apart is our dedication to track progress and Make Every Number Count. This isn't just a promise for a better future—it's something we can actually measure and watch unfold.

 

Read more about our impact and how we Make Every Number Count. 

 

Posted in the category News & People.