Vermont B Corps

In 2010, Vermont became the second state in the country to enact Benefit Corporation legislation, allowing new companies to form, and existing companies to organize as benefit corporations. The legal framework of a benefit corporation gives businesses and investors the flexibility to consider mission and public benefit, in addition to profit, for all stakeholders, including shareholders, over the long term, even through exit transactions such as IPOs and acquisitions.

B-Corp Certification is an additional tool for businesses to manage their operations and programs according to the highest social and environmental standards. Certification is managed by the nonprofit organization B Lab, which sets rigorous standards for social
and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. (Benefit corporations may, but are not required, to choose B-Corp Certification as well).

B-Corps in Vermont range from well-known food producers like Cabot Creamery Co-op and Ben & Jerry’s to publicly owned utilities like Green Mountain Power, financial institutions  such as Mascoma Bank and Clean Yield Asset Management, retail brands like Seventh Generation and King Arthur Flour and advanced manufacturing firms such as Chroma Technology Corp.