Why the good guys choose Social(k)

Social(k) is featured in the first national ad campaign about the community of Certified B Corporations that launched today. The ad campaign is the work of the nonprofit B Lab that certifies B Corporations as having met rigorous, transparent standards of social and environmental performance.

The campaign invites more than 17MM conscious consumers and sustainable business leaders to learn more about 'a better way of doing business' through media partnerships with Ogden Publications, publisher of sustainable living magazines like Mother Earth News, Natural Home, and Utne Reader, Care2.com, the largest online community of citizen activists, and Sustainable Industries, the business source for leaders of the new economy. The ads feature more than 60 of the 330 Certified B Corps in home and office settings with the unifying message 'Better Companies Make Better Products. B Corps are Better Companies.’'

"Social(k) is often recognized as a sustainability leader in our industry", says Rob Thomas, President. "Becoming a Certified B Corp recognizes Social(k) as a leader in a much bigger movement to create a better way of doing business," Thomas continued.

"On the heels of economic and environmental disasters, Americans are hungry for a better way to do business," said Jay Coen Gilbert, co founder of B Lab. "The B Corp campaign makes it easier for Americans to find companies like Social(k) worthy of their support. As an example Social(k) handles the B Lab retirement plan along with 20 other B Corps like Numi Tea, Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products, Indigenous, CSRwire and Trillium Asset Management." Coen Gilbert added.

In research conducted for the campaign with values-driven consumers by brand innovation firm BBMG, over 90% said they'd look out for the featured B Corps the next time they went shopping, or at least want to learn more about them. "The B Corp campaign resonates because consumers care about the companies that stand behind the products", said Raphael Bemporad, partner at BBMG. "Beyond the value of a trusted third party seal, the transparency requirements for B Corp certification enable consumers to do their own research to distinguish good companies from just good marketing," Bemporad continued.

To earn certification, B Corporations must achieve a minimum score on the B Impact Rating System, which assesses a company's impact on its workforce, suppliers, consumers, community, and the environment, and are legally required to consider the interests of these stakeholders, not just shareholders, when making decisions.

Social(k) continues to donate 8.5 percent of pre-tax net sales to Heifer International for every client, qualifying Social(k) for One Percent for the Planet membership.

About Social(k)

Springfield, MA-based Social(k) is the nation's most diverse socially responsible retirement platform for 401(k) and 403(b) plans, offering approximately 200 screened socially responsible funds, including but not limited to, Calvert, Pax, Parnassus, Portfolio 21, and Green Century funds, as well as more than 2000 conventional funds to choose from. Nearly 500 financial advisors have registered with Social(k) so as to offer its unique retirement program to their clients as an alternative to the limited options normally offered through today's traditional sponsored programs. Social(k) is a founding B Corporation, Slow Money Alliance founding member, Green America Approved, Organic Trade Association affiliate and One Percent for the Planet affiliate. Visit Social(k) on Facebook.

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About B Lab

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 supportive public policies, including legislation creating a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business. Contact: Jay Coen Gilbert at jay@bcorporation.net.

Social(k)

Social(k)

Social(k) is a retirement plan platform with over 200 Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance, ESG, screened funds, rather than the usual one or two. In addition Social(k) offers over 2000 traditional funds to provide employees greater choice when determining portfolio mix. Social(k) is the first choice for mission driven organizations operating in a sustainable manner. Social(k) works with your existing advisor or we can refer someone from our network of over 500 advisors. Whether you have a plan or are just looking to offer one let us show you how we offer a sustainable investing advantage to your employees.

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