Every bag of King Arthur flour proudly sports a “Certified B Corp” logo on its side. But what exactly does that mean? And why does it matter? Read on to find out.
What is a B Corp?
A B Corp is a company that meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency — one that does good for people and the planet. These businesses balance profit with purpose, using their economic success to address society’s most critical challenges. As a certified B Corp, King Arthur has been transparently measuring our impact on people and the planet against rigorous third-party standards since 2007.
What does it take to become a B Corp?
To achieve B Corp status, companies undergo verified certification, which is facilitated by B Lab, a nonprofit founded in 2006 with the aim to use business as a force for good and to create an equitable economic system for people and the planet. B Corps meet verified high levels of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, as measured by the “B Impact Assessment.” (You can think of B Corp Certification as similar to Fair Trade certification in coffee or LEED certification in buildings.)
The B Impact assessment evaluates every element of a company’s impact, including:
- Governance
- Employee well-being
- Community building
- Environmental impact
- Customer satisfaction
Maintaining B Corp status is a rigorous process — companies undergo assessments every three years to ensure they continue to meet these strict standards and retain their certification. When you see the B Corp logo on a company’s products or website, you know they are truly living up to these standards.
As a founding B Corp member, King Arthur was one of the first companies to ever undergo certification, alongside just six other companies, back in May 2007. Now, there are over 9,000 B Corps across 90 countries!
What’s the difference between a Certified B Corporation and a Benefit Corporation?
With similar names, it can be easy to confuse the two. A Certified B Corporation is a third-party certification conferred by the nonprofit B Lab. A Benefit Corporation is a legal structure for a business, like an LLC or corporation, that requires a company to consider the impact of its decisions on society and the environment, in addition to making a profit. King Arthur Baking Company is both!
Why did King Arthur become a founding B Corp?
As a founding B Corp member, King Arthur was one of the first companies to ever undergo certification, alongside just six other companies, back in May 2007. Now, there are over 9,000 B Corps across 90 countries!
And even though we were one of the first, we haven’t rested on our laurels: Since 2007, we’ve continued to undergo assessments and certification, building on our progress and pushing ourselves to improve our scores throughout the years. “We're proud to be founding members and to have helped grow the B Corp movement over the years,” says Molly Lawrence, King Arthur’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager. “Joining the B Corp movement was a no-brainer for us, because everything it stands for aligns with what King Arthur has always valued.”
For context, King Arthur’s most recent verified B Impact score was 123.7; the minimum requirement is 80 points out of 200. (B Lab recently rolled out new certification standards, moving away from the old point system. Now, companies need to meet specific requirements across various impact areas, and we’re excited to continue evolving with these new standards.) Learn more about the work that we do — including employee-ownership, community grants, regenerative agriculture, and much more — in our most recent Impact Report.
We also help lead the Vermont B Corp Collective, a community of certified B Corps based in Vermont that includes Cabot Creamery and Seventh Generation — engaging, connecting, and fostering collaboration together. (Fun fact: Vermont has the highest number of B Corps per capita!)
So when you pick up a bag of flour, you’re doing more than just stocking your pantry — you’re helping nurture a vibrant community of bakers and support a healthier planet. Every purchase helps us use business as a force for good, so we can keep baking a better world together.
Cover photo (Sourdough Sandwich Bread) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitin Wayne.
