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Health & Fitness

New Leaf is First Grocer in CA to be Certified a B Corporation

New Leaf Community Markets announced on November 6 that B Lab, the international B Corporation certification body, has recognized New Leaf as a Certified B Corporation (B Corp).

A B Corp is a new type of company that uses the power of business to solve social and economic problems. New Leaf is the first grocer in California to achieve this certification, and one of only two grocers in the world to do so. 

In order to be recognized as a B Corp, New Leaf Community Markets had to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.  “As a company whose mission is to nourish and sustain our community, certifying as a B Corp was a natural step,” said Scott Roseman, founder and co-owner of New Leaf Community Markets. “Certification recognizes that we place as much value on taking care of our staff, the community, and the environment as we do on growing and operating our business,” he added.

Since its founding 28 years ago, New Leaf, a Green Certified Business, has demonstrated a deep commitment to the environment and to giving back to the community; each year the grocer donates 10% of profits to local non-profits working to improve the quality of life.

B Corp certification is to sustainable business what LEED certification is to green building or Fair Trade certification is to coffee. Unlike traditional corporations, B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on their shareholders, but also on their stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and the environment. All B Corps strive to be best for the world. They set the bar for businesses seeking to have a positive social and environmental impact, scoring 25% higher than nearly 2,000 other sustainable businesses on the B Impact Assessment.

Today, there is a growing community of more than 800 Certified B Corps from 27 countries and 60 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business.  Despite its small size, the County of Santa Cruz now has three B Corps: New Leaf Community Markets, Swanton Berry Farm, and NextSpace Santa Cruz.

About B Lab
B Lab is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves a global movement of entrepreneurs using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab serves these entrepreneurs through three interrelated initiatives that provide them the legal infrastructure and help them attract the customers, talent, and capital to scale: certifying organizations, passing legislation, and analytics for benchmarking, measuring, and reporting on what matters. www.bcorporation.net

About New Leaf Community Markets
New Leaf Community Markets, a locally owned, natural grocery store on the Central Coast of California, has been serving the community for 28 years. Founded in 1985, New Leaf's mission, to nourish and sustain our community, is reflected in the 10% of profits given annually to support local non-profits working to improve the quality of life. New Leaf is committed to offering customers choices that have the most beneficial impact on their health, and the health of the environment. Helping customers make informed decisions is an integral part of this commitment.  www.newleaf.com


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