Today B Lab named the 2012 ‘Rockstars of the New Economy’, companies recognized for their ability to achieve both high growth and high social and environmental impact. Six businesses nationally were honored, including online bookseller Better World Books, food services provider Revolution Foods, solar company Sungevity, coffee importer Sustainable Harvest, and ‘Best Emerging Artists’ college access financier Lumni USA and eyewear company Warby Parker.

“Rockstars inspire us; they make us think, “That’s awesome! I want to do that.”, says Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, the nonprofit that honored these ‘Rockstars of the New Economy’ and certifies B Corporations.  “These Rockstars will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to define their success not just by their financial growth, but also by their social impact.”

Better World Books has grown revenues 6x in the last 5 years, reaching $55 million in 2011, and has donated over 5 million books to those in need to“create a better world, one book at a time.” Learn more at http://bcorporation.net/betterworldbooks.

Revolution Foods has grown revenues 100x in the last 5 years, reaching $50 million in 2011. The company has served more than 30 million healthy meals to public school students across the country, fighting childhood obesity and ensuring students come to class ready to learn. Learn more at http://bcorporation.net/revolutionfoods.

Sungevity has expanded their staff by 3x in the last year, reaching 300 employees in 2011. The company has installed over 3,500 houses with solar, generating more than 8,500 kW and leading the way in the “rooftop revolution,” aiming to put solar on individual houses worldwide. Learn more at http://bcorporation.net/sungevity.

Sustainable Harvest has grown revenues by 5x in the last 5 years, reaching $76 million in 2011, and has channeled more than $200 million to rural, coffee farming communities in the last 15 years, improving the lives of the 2,000 families with whom they work. Learn more at http://www.bcorporation.net/sustainableharvest.

Lumni USA has financed its first class of 30 American, low income students with their innovative and scaleable financing model to make higher education available based on merit, not financial background. Over the last five years, the Lumni family of companies expanded from $1.5 million in assets under management to $25 million, reaching 2,500 students globally in 2011. Learn more at http://www.bcorporation.net/lumniusa.

Warby Parker has grown to 50 employees in its first 18 months and has helped distribute over 100,000 pairs of glasses to those in need living in emerging markets, increasing the individual’s productivity at work by 35 percent and boosting their income 20 percent. Learn more at http://www.bcorporation.net/warbyparker.

These Rockstars are highlighted in the 2012 B Corp Annual Report, recently published by the nonprofit B Lab which certifies B Corporations as having met rigorous, transparent standards of social and environmental performance.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.  B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting legislation creating a new corporate form that meets higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency.  Learn more at bcorporation.net, benefitcorp.net, and giirs.org.  For more information contact Katie Kerr, katie@bcorporation.net, 610-296-8283.

B Lab

B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement to redefine success in business. It's vision is that one day all companies will compete not only to be the best in the world, but best for the world.

B Lab drives this systemic change through a number of interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations who lead this movement and make it easier to tell the difference between “good companies” and good marketing; 2) passing benefit corporation legislation to create a new kind of corporation legally required to create value for society, not just shareholders; 3) helping investors invest for impact through use of the B Analytics data platform; and 4) helping businesses measure, compare and improve their social and environmental performance through use of the B Impact Assessment as a free powerful educational tool.

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