This week, The Body Shop and Frank And Oak both announced their B Corp certification, joining over 3,000 businesses across 64 countries and 150 industries in their commitment to sustainability.

What is B Corp? B, which stands for beneficial, and Corp, meaning corporation, is a certification granted to companies that uphold high social and environmental standards in all facets of their business. Certification can take years depending on the size of the corporation; the qualifying process dives deep into every element of the business, from the sourcing of products to the treatment of staff.

Why does having a B Corp certification matter? With many brands claiming to be “clean”, “green” and every other eco-buzzword you can think of, B Corp certification makes it easy for consumers to identify brands that are truly dedicated to the betterment of the world.

Here are eight fashion and beauty brands that are leading the charge toward a more sustainable future.

The Body Shop

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CAN WE GET A HIGH FIVE? Today we have some exciting news to share with you all! The Body Shop is now B Corp certified…. But what does this mean? B Corps are champions of using business as a force for good. They don’t just care about profit – they care about people and the planet too. This is how The Body Shop has always done business. It’s in The Body Shop’s DNA. Now we have the stamp to prove it. Here a few snackable facts about what being a B Corp means for The Body Shop: • The Body Shop will join a global community of over 3,000 businesses in 150 industries and 60 countries across the globe. • B Corps use profits and growth to create a positive impact for their employees, communities and the environment. • Our parent company, Natura, is also a B Corp • This certification makes The Body Shop the largest B Corp founded by a woman Discover more online! #bcorpcertified #bcorp

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The Body Shop is widely recognized for its social and environmental efforts and just this week became the largest B Corp founded by a woman. Take its 32-year-old Community Fair Trade program, which partners with artisans in countries worldwide to produce some of the brand’s most famous products (Shea Body Butter, anyone?). Plus, its Forever Against Animal Testing campaign delivered eight million signatures to the UN in support of a ban against animal testing. 

Beautycounter

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When it comes to fighting for #betterbeauty laws that will make safer ingredients the standard for ALL products, our SVP of Social Mission, Lindsay Dahl, leads the charge…with a smile. Her passion for the cause is contagious and her focus is unwavering. (Follow her at @beautycounter.hill.nerd to get schooled on policies, clean living & more!) Why? As it currently stands, the personal care industry is under-regulated, with only 30 potentially harmful ingredients banned from current formulations in the U.S. market. We believe that beauty can do better, and we encourage you to join us in advocating for stricter policies. Simply text BETTERBEAUTY to 52886 in the U.S. and 70734 in Canada and make your voice heard 📣. Spread the word by tagging below anyone who needs to know.

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In 2015, cosmetics brand Beautycounter received B Corp status. The brand does rigorous biannual screenings for their product suppliers internationally in an effort to eradicate human trafficking along the cosmetics supply chain. Since expanding to Canada in 2016, the brand has led a grassroots movement to push for stricter laws on ingredient labelling.

Dr. Hauschka

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This year, the harvest of organic castor oil from our partner Nanalal Satra was very poor owing to the lack of rain. Because of this, many farmers have little or no income, which is why we decided to pay 15 percent more than the usual 10 percent. In this case, the extra money is being channelled into a school in the village of Makhel where, in addition to the primary school, a classroom for upper secondary level students has been set up. This means that local girls – for whom the nearest school was 35 kilometres away – will now also have the opportunity to continue their education. Other projects financed by the "Fair for Life" fund include a drinking water tank, a computer for a small village school, and the construction of ponds to improve the water supply in the dry region. 💚🌱 Cette année, la récolte d’huile de ricin biologique de notre partenaire Nanalal Satra a été très pauvre en raison du manque de pluie. De ce fait, de nombreux agriculteurs ont peu ou pas de revenus, raison pour laquelle nous avons décidé de payer 15% de plus que les 10% habituels. Dans ce cas, l’argent supplémentaire est acheminé vers une école du village de Makhel où, en plus de l’école primaire, une salle de classe pour les étudiants du deuxième cycle du secondaire a été créée. Cela signifie que les filles de la localité – pour qui l’école la plus proche se trouvait à 35 kilomètres – auront également la possibilité de poursuivre leurs études. Parmi les autres projets financés par le fonds "Fair for Life" figurent un réservoir d'eau potable, un ordinateur pour une petite école de village et la construction d'étangs pour améliorer l'approvisionnement en eau de la région sèche.💚🌱 @drhauschkalive #drhauschka #harvest #fairforlife #makeadifference

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Dr. Hauschka has been a favourite of natural-beauty lovers since it launched in 1967. In 2015, the brand was granted B Corp certification, verifying its status as a true green beauty brand. Ingredients are almost entirely sourced through biodynamic cultivation and with fair-trade practices in mind. Dr. Hauschka also uses 100 percent green electricity to power its business and provides company bicycles and carpooling systems for employees.  

Dr. Bronner’s

Officially gaining B Corp status in 2015, Dr. Bronner’s commitment to third-party verification has made them one of the most decorated cosmetic brands on the eco-friendly block; it’s also Leaping Bunny, Non-GMO and Fair for Life certified. Scroll through their IG feed and almost every post will tell a story about an initiative they’re supporting.

Frank And Oak

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It is a privilege to be surrounded by Earth’s greatest landscapes.⁠⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀ Minimizing our impact is central for preserving the land we love.⁠⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ On October 1st you’ll never experience winter and nature the same way again. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⁠⠀ Quelle chance nous avons d’être entourés par les plus beaux paysages du monde. Réduire notre impact sur la planète est donc vital pour préserver notre Terre bien aimée. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀ Le 1er Octobre, préparez-vous à vivre un hiver plus éthique et durable.⁠⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #makeabetterfuture⁠⠀

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The Montreal-based fashion and lifestyle brand marked a major milestone in their commitment to sustainability by achieving B Corp status in September 2019. This year, they partnered with Earth Day Canada to measure their carbon impact and to offset the emissions produced by their Canadian e-commerce and Style Plan shipments. The brand is dedicated to the use of recycled materials; half of the collection is made from sustainable materials and their Let’s Give a Shi(r)t initiative gives a second life to gently used clothing by upcycling garments for Canadian non-profits.

Poppy Barley

This Edmonton-based luxury leather shoe and accessories brand partners with family-owned factories in Mexico and Brazil to ethically produce their collection and to ensure that those employees receive a living wage and benefits. With a mission of making long-lasting, high-quality pieces, Poppy Barley became B Corp certified in March 2019. Along with environmental initiatives like recycled packaging and donating leftover products, the company also donates one percent of sales back to the community to support partners like The Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Kotn

Toronto-based clothing brand Kotn works directly with cotton-farming families in Egypt to ethically produce their fabrics. They became B Corp certified in September 2017 – the same year they completed the funding and construction of their first school in partnership with pro-literacy organizations in the Nile Delta.

Encircled

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The Retrograde Jacket Dress got a colour update!⁠ ⁠ A jacket, tunic and a chic little black dress all in one. And now it’s available for pre-order in our popular classic: Dark Grey. This is the same Grey we use in our Dressy Sweatpants, All Day Work Dress and All Day Jumpsuit. ⁠ ⁠ A limited small batch is available online in our store today.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Click @encircled_ and the link in the profile to shop the Retrograde Jacket Dress.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #buylesschoosewell #madeincanada #capsulewardrobe #qualityoverquantity #flashesofdelight #shopsmall #thatsdarling #ministyle #lessismore #sustainablestyle #slowfashionblogger #minimaliststyle #minimalist #makingadifference #consciousbrands #ethicalcompany #ethicallymade #giveback #ethicalfashion #changemakers #shopsocial #ethicalliving #livemindfully #sustainable #ecofriendly #sustainableliving⁠

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Eco-friendly fabrics and ethical production is at the heart of this made-in-Canada capsule wardrobe line, which became A certified B Corp in February 2018. The collection of closet essentials is produced with materials like Modal (made from sustainably-sourced beech wood pulp), Tencel Lyocell (sustainably-sourced wood pulp that doesn’t release chemicals or by-products into the environment) and rayon made from bamboo (it’s completely biodegradable). The brand is committed to a transparent production process, which ensures fair wages and safe working conditions.