A retailer, manufacturer and a nonprofit were recently honored for their work bringing social and environmental change to West Michigan.
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Gazelle Sports, Cascade Engineering and Local First were honored in October with The Measure What Matters Award at the 2014 B Corp Champions Retreat in Burlington, Vt.
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The accolade was given to the three certified Benefit Corporations, or B Corps, for their collaborative work advocating for positive social and environmental change in the region.
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This honor for Gazelle Sports comes on the one year anniversary of the retailer’s B Corp certification, a designation awarded by B Lab, a nonprofit group that promotes sustainable business practices.
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“Here in West Michigan, we are fortunate to follow the example set by one of the nation’s first B Corps, Cascade Engineering, and its CEO, Fred Keller,” said Chris Lampen-Crowell, Gazelle Sports’ co-founder and owner.
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He added that Local First West Michigan is convening four other companies that have joined Cascade Engineering, along with Grand Valley State University’s Business Ethics Department, to learn from each other and increase the awareness of the B Corp movement.
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“We’ve all agreed to use the B Corp measurement tools to assess our business practices and impact so that our success goes beyond anecdotal claims,” Lampen-Crowell said.
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Each company must meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency before it can be awarded with Benefit Corporation status.
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B Corp certified companies are actively leading the way in which success in business is defined; developing equitable and sustainable best practices to help solve social, environmental and business problems.
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They work to make a real difference for all of their stakeholders: owners, customers, employees, communities and the world.
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Launched in downtown Kalamazoo in 1985, Gazelle Sports also has locations in Grand Rapids and downtown Holland. The sports footwear and apparel retailer provides free runs and walks, weekly clinics, training programs, and organizes or supports over 200 events throughout the year.
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Lampen-Crowell noted that the businesses also use a triple bottom line to help measure their progress. This accounting framework incorporates three dimensions of performance: social, environmental and financial, also known as the 3Ps: people, planet, profits.
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“This practice provides for a great outcome since we as a company really want to be engaged in doing something through business to make the environment better and create more of a social relationship based economy, focused on people and connections, rather than only financial transactions,” Lampen-Crowell said.
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Other B Corps in West Michigan include Better Way Imports, Brewery Vivant and Bazzani Associates.
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For original article, click here.
