Doing Good: Proud to Be A Certified B Corp
At Yogi, We’re Proud To Be A Certified B Corp
At Yogi, we believe our purpose in business is to serve. For us, this means that with every ingredient we source and every cup of tea we make, we strive to support quality, sustainability, and social responsibility on a local, national, and global level.
It was this purpose that inspired us to become a Certified B Corporation.
What is a Certified B-Corp? How does a company become a Certified B Corp?
B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that are mission-oriented and aim to benefit all stakeholders – not just shareholders. Together, B Corps aspire to “do good” through their products, practices, and profits.
For a company to receive B Corporation Certification, it is evaluated in five impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. The evaluation process includes an assessment with 250 questions about how the company performs in each of the five impact areas, as well as an onsite audit. Companies are allocated points based on their response to each question and must score a minimum of 80 points in order to receive B Corp certification.
East West Tea Company, the parent company of Yogi Tea, first achieved B Corp Certification in 2014, and has continued to maintain our certification every three years since (B Corps must recertify every three years to maintain their certification status). We’re proud to share that, on our most recent assessment, we scored 105.6 points!
To us, this score represents more than just a number. It’s a reminder of how our everyday actions and decisions can have a positive impact on our community, our consumers, and our planet.
Here are just a few ways in which we use business as a force for good, in key B Corp impact areas:
Environment
In our Eugene, Ore., manufacturing facility, we work to reduce the total amount of waste that we create and send to the landfill. Currently, we divert about 60% of the waste we generate – meaning that instead of sending this waste to the landfill, we find ways to recycle, reuse, or compost it instead.
In 2020, that meant keeping over 445,000 pounds of waste out of the landfill!
These waste diversion efforts are accomplished in a few ways. For example, we partner with 15 different vendors who specialize in recycling items that typically prove to be challenging materials, such as batteries, Styrofoam, and ink cartridges. Additionally, we work with other local businesses to find re-use opportunities for excess shipping materials that we were unable to use but didn’t want to go to waste.
And, in 2020, we implemented programs for recycling single-use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items in our facility including hair nets, beard nets, and disposable masks. We estimate that this will help keep over 25,000 hairnets out of the landfill each year.
Community
In the fall of 2020, our local community in Oregon was deeply impacted by wildfires in our area. The Holiday Farm fires hit so close to home that many of our employees had to evacuate the area. To support our employees during this difficult time, we provided those impacted with hotel rooms until they were able to safely return home.
During this time, our employees were eager to find ways to support the Eugene community. We began serving and donating tea to many of the local shelters housing individuals and families who were displaced from the fires. Once the smoke cleared, we launched an employee charity run/walk event to raise money for United Way of Lane County, which provided critical support for families impacted by the wildfires. During our eight-hour event, 111 employees and their family members completed 397 miles of running or walking. As a result, we were able to donate $10,000 to United Way of Lane County. Additionally, as an expression of our gratitude for those who worked countless hours to protect our community, we donated $25,000 to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.
Workers
Through our brands, we aim to inspire people to lead lives focused on health and wellness. This mindset also carries through to how we engage with and support our employees. This includes a comprehensive healthcare benefits package inclusive of alternative care options. Through this plan, our employees have access to chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage therapy services, billable through their insurance.
Our Eugene facility is designed with wellness in mind, providing employees with an onsite massage chair as well as a “Breathe Deep” room, which is outfitted for yoga and meditation. The facility is supported by an abundance of natural lighting and indoor plants, which have both been shown to reduce stress in a work environment.
Being part of the B Corp community also gives us the opportunity to collaborate with and share ideas with like-minded, B Corp certified companies. Our home state of Oregon has 138 certified B Corps representing a variety of industries, including IT services, consulting firms, banks, law firms, grocery stores, and even a deli! Actively participating in Oregon-based B Corp community events means provides us with the opportunity to expand our impact by supporting aspiring B Corp companies and sharing the B Corp story.
The B Corp community is about more than just a certification. It’s about proving that businesses can – and should – be a force for good. It’s about proving that businesses can thrive while putting people before profit. By working alongside other B Corp companies, it’s our hope that we can amplify this message and inspire more companies to adopt the B Corp mindset.
