How to Vote with your Dollar
- Sarah Petelinsek
- Mar 26, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 10, 2021
As consumers, we have the opportunity to vote with our dollar every day. Every purchase we make, every company we choose to support, every product we tell our friends about, we are casting our ballot and endorsing these products. That is why I love Certified B-Corporations. They let me know that when I am casting my vote, I am voting for a company that cares about not just the product, but the environmental, ethical, and cultural impact of those products.
Certified B Corporations are companies that prioritize their employees, their community, and their customers ahead of their bottom line. Companies like Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Cheese, Patagonia, Arbonne, and Athleta have all committed to putting people ahead of profit, and agree to make ethical and sustainable choices for their business.
B - Corporations all agree to abide by the same basic principles and values.
That we must be the change we seek in the world.
That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.
To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.
To get to be a certified B-Corporation, companies undergo a rigorous application process that includes disclosing emission information, working conditions, the ethics of the company, and the company’s plan to improve. This to me is the coolest part about B-Corporations. They understand that you don’t have to be perfect to be a good company. You just have to make as many right decisions that you can, and be willing to improve and get better as you grow.
Below, I have created a list of some of my favorite B - Corporations and my favorite products that they make!
It is not about being perfect with our purchases, or what we consume. It is about making as many right decisions as we can and choosing to support companies that do the same.
Because well, obviously haha. My favorite is their Non-Dairy Chunky Monkey. It tastes like Frozen bananas and doesn’t leave me bloated and gross feeling after!!
Cabot’s Alpine Cheddar Cheese from their Legacy collection is super creamy and delicious. Plus let’s be real, I love all cheese so it’s awesome to support a company that I love while eating what I love.
Arbonne is one of those company’s that you maybe haven’t heard of yet, but who’s products are a total staple in my life. Their skincare and nutrition is made with real ingredients that you can pronounce, and the quality is unreal. My favorite product that I have been using pretty much everyday is the PhytoSport Hydration. They help me recover from long runs, hikes, etc. and honestly its just delicious.
Patagonia is my go to for all of my outdoor gear. Their products are super technical and they have a lifetime warranty. They also have pretty much everything I could ever need for my adventures! I love their better sweaters, the Nano-puff line, and the synchillas.
This should surprise no one, but I love Athleta. Since becoming a Community Coordinator for Athleta nearly a year ago, I have fallen in love with pretty much every product that they make. I am in something Athleta nearly every day. Lately I have been loving the new solace bra that they just launched, but favorite set of all time is the Contender set they came out with in the Summer of 2019!
Tom’s shoes are a classic item. For every shoe you purchase they donate a pair of shoes to someone in need. I also love Tom’s because they make shoes for every style, wedges to sneakers.
My Solamate Socks honestly just make my feet happy. They are so fun and no two socks are exactly the same! I love wearing them with booties and leggings or to do some yoga!
You guys, I love that David Hill is a B-Corp because it just shows that you can support amazing companies that are doing great things for their communities, while getting the same products that you love! Also their Rose is so yummy!
I know that Kombucha is not for everyone, but I personally love it. I love the taste, and it is so good for you! The Love flavor is my favorite, and this flavor is a 1% for the Planet product which means they give directly to a nonprofit organization for the sale of this product!
Last, but certainly not least, I love Uncommon Goods! Uncommon Goods is my one stop for gifts for people! They have a little bit of everything and their gifts are so unique and thoughtful!
There are over 3,000 Certified B-Corporations so if you don’t love the businesses I just listed, I encourage you to dig around on the Certified B-Corporation website and find businesses that you do love. It is as simple as making one small choice to make the world a little bit better.
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