Why Pete & Gerry's Is Proud to Be a Certified B Corporation
If you've ever taken a look at our Pete & Gerry's cartons, you've probably noticed the phrase “Certified B Corporation” on the side. More than a simple letter or label, the B Corp logo comes with many benefits for you, our hens, and the planet we call home. When you purchase products from certified B Corporations, you're voting with your dollars for a more just and equitable approach to doing business.
So, What Is a B Corp?
The B Corporation community was established in 2006 by three friends with a shared vision of using business to make a positive impact. Since then, it has steadily grown into a vibrant global network of passionate, mission-driven companies. Like us, B Corps (that's short for Benefit Corporations) are guided by strong values and a triple bottom line of people, profits, and the planet to ensure a greater benefit behind every decision made. B Corps are also held accountable with regular assessments that measure the social, economic, and environmental impact of their business on others and future generations.
Extending far beyond the egg aisle, today's B Corp community spans numerous countries and continents. Pete & Gerry's is a proud member of B Lab U.S. & Canada, the non-profit that handles our B Corp recertification alongside other trusted and purpose-driven businesses of North America. We also partner with B Local Boston to provide resources and facilitate collaboration between New England B Corps, including leadership development opportunities for Pete & Gerry's employees.
The First B Corp Certified Eggs on the Shelf
Upon earning our B Corp Certification in 2013, Pete & Gerry's became the very first egg producer in the U.S. with this meaningful title. Since leading the way for other egg producers and food companies to join the B Corp movement, we continue to maintain the same high standard of thoughtful and responsible business practices across every facet of our company. Whether it's raising our hens to high Certified Humane standards or providing a supportive workplace and competitive wages for our employees, we're putting our values first as we help bring nutritious food to grocery stores nationwide.
How Do You Become a B Corporation?
The B Corp Certification Process
The first step in every B Corporation's journey is starting the B Impact Assessment. We work with B Lab for our assessment each term, which is a rigorous process that happens every three years and takes several months to complete. Each assessment dives deep into the impact of our business on all stakeholders, not just shareholders. This means that Pete & Gerry's can't simply be good at selling eggs to maintain B Corp status; we must be working towards the greater good in all we do, with the social and environmental performance records to back it up.
While most questions remain the same across each assessment, the weight of each question's impact on the final score or B Corp certification status varies depending on the size, industry, and location of the company. Here is how the assessment evaluates our impacts on the following stakeholders:
- Environment: The B Impact Assessment evaluates our environmental stewardship, focusing on sustainable farming practices. For Pete & Gerry's, this includes our commitment to organic farming, which avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and our pasture-raised practices that promote biodiversity and soil health. We also focus on reducing our carbon footprint through efficient energy use and waste management, ensuring our operations are as eco-friendly as possible.
- Communities: Our impact on local communities is assessed by our engagement and support for local economies. This includes creating jobs in rural areas, supporting local farmers, and participating in community development initiatives. We prioritize fair labor practices and contribute to community well-being through educational programs and partnerships with local organizations.
- Customers: The assessment looks at how we serve and engage with our customers. For us, this means providing transparency about our production practices and ensuring the highest quality and safety standards for our eggs. We educate our customers about the benefits of organic and pasture-raised eggs, fostering trust and loyalty through honest communication and ethical marketing.
- Suppliers: Our relationships with suppliers are evaluated based on sustainability and ethical sourcing. We work closely with family farms that share our values, ensuring they adhere to humane and environmentally friendly practices. This includes fair pricing and long-term partnerships that support their livelihoods and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Employees: The assessment measures our commitment to employee welfare, including fair wages, benefits, and a positive work environment. At Pete & Gerry's, we prioritize employee development, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring our team feels valued and empowered. We also focus on health and safety standards to maintain a supportive workplace.
- Shareholders: For shareholders, the B Impact Assessment considers how we balance profit with purpose. We are committed to transparency and accountability, ensuring that our business decisions align with our mission to produce eggs responsibly. This includes regular reporting on our social and environmental impact and demonstrating our dedication to long-term sustainability and ethical business practices.
Measuring Social and Environmental Impact
After completing the B Impact Assessment, each organization is awarded an "impact score" based on five key impact areas (governance, workers, community, the environment, and customers). This score has two goals: measuring the impact of the business today and setting the roadmap for future improvement opportunities. Businesses must receive a minimum impact score of 80 to become a Certified B Corp, after which they must sign an official B Corp Agreement to complete the certification process.
Think of it like searching for the Fair Trade Certified seal when you buy coffee or seeing the USDA Organic Certification when you buy Pete & Gerry's Eggs, but with the confidence that the score is a reflection of the entire company's business practices. And because transparency is key for a thriving and equitable economy, B Lab makes it easy for anyone to review impact scores and track a B Corp's progress over time.
Pete & Gerry's named Best for the World™ B Corp.
Just like there are halls of fame for sports and music, B Lab also recognizes the top-performing B Corps each year that show a notable impact through their work. The Best for the World B Corp™ distinction is granted to Certified B Corps whose verified scores in the five impact areas evaluated in the B Impact Assessment rank in the top 5% of all B Corps in their corresponding size group.
In 2022, Pete & Gerry's had the honor of being named Best for the World B Corp for Communities. B Corps recognized for their exceptional commitment to community, have mission-driven cultures that embrace supplier relations, social engagement, charitable giving, and strong, diverse communities. Here at Pete & Gerry's, we're passionate about partnering with small family farms and raising our flocks in a way that's better for our environment. We've always put people and the well-being of our local communities first in all we do, and earning this recognition means we're continuing down the right track with plenty more work ahead.
Better eggs for the greater good
Since becoming the first egg producer to join the B Corp community, we've continued to strengthen our commitment to a better way to produce nutritious food for families across the country. In the years since our first assessment, we have participated in several recertification audits and proudly maintain our Benefit Corporation status today. For a closer look at our detailed report, click here.
Curious about having your own company become a B Corp? Learn more about joining the B hive here.
