Certified B Corporations are members of a global movement of people using business as a force for good™. To become certified as a B Corp, companies must meet the high standards set by B Lab in its certification process which includes assessing and verifying their policies and methods in regard to social and environmental performance (i.e., how it treats its employees and customers and its carbon footprint).
WHAT IS A B CORP?
WHAT IS B LAB?
B Lab is a non-profit corporation that certifies B Corps similar to the way that the USDA certifies farms as organic. The B stands for “benefit,” and refers to benefiting workers, the community and the environment.
WHY WE CHOSE TO BECOME A B CORP
As a socially responsible investment advisory firm, Riverwater Partners is proud to have officially become the first Milwaukee company and the only investment advisor in Wisconsin (as of Jan 2023) to become a Certified B Corporation®.
As responsible or ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investors, attaining B Corp status was a natural extension of our values at Riverwater. ESG investing means we evaluate not only the financial fundamentals of each company, but also (ESG) factors such as energy use, sustainable initiatives, board diversity, employee satisfaction and product safety.
We believe companies that focus on the interests of all stakeholders – customers, employees, communities, and shareholders – will produce better financial returns and a better world for all.
Accordingly, we encourage the companies we invest in to improve their environmental footprint, social impact and governance practices, all of which, studies have shown, have a positive impact on stock performance. Achieving B Corp status affirms that we also adhere to the same standards we expect from the companies we invest in. Click here to read more about why we became a B Corp.