With over 10,000 B Corps globally, B Corp certification is one of the best known ecosocial business certifications, but it's just one of many paths to demonstrating a company's values and impact. Tom Hering, co-founder of Benefit Corporations for Good, has built another certification and community for purpose-driven businesses, and we're excited to bring him front and center for our first Common Ground event!
As one of just four third-party standards recognized by the Oregon Secretary of State -- and the only one based right here in Oregon -- "BCFG exists to help small businesses use their values as a competitive advantage." Tom was instrumental in the development of a bill that gives Benefit Corporations an advantage when seeking contracts with the State of Oregon, recognizing that "businesses that consider environmental and social impact should be rewarded for the good they’re doing for their employees, their customers and their communities.”
Our conversation with Tom will highlight what inspired him to create an "on-ramp" for triple bottom line businesses and what BCFG's certification looks like in practice. We'll also explore the common ground between BCFG and our own OPO community — the shared values and overlapping commitments to equity, sustainability, and community well-being that bring us together.
Whether you're curious about alternate paths for your own company or simply want to understand the fuller landscape of values-based business in the Pacific Northwest, this is a conversation worth joining.
What attendees should walk away with:
A clear understanding of what Benefit Corporations for Good certification is, how it works, and who it's designed for
A side-by-side sense of how BCFG certification compares to B Corp — and how they complement and contrast from one another
Insight into the broader ecosocial certification landscape in Oregon and why it matters for the movement
Practical next steps if you or a business in your network is considering certification
Free for On Purpose Oregon members and anyone who works at a BCFG-certified company.