414: B Corp Certified Businesses | Solar, Candle, Coffee & Cider

May 22, 2024

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Businesses Certified as a B Corp Stand Out!

Explore the benefits of B Corp certification with leaders from solar, candle, coffee, and cider industries. Learn about their challenges and successes in creating positive social and environmental impact.

In this Cider Chat

Enjoy this informative panel discussion led by Bridget Sprague of Revision Energy with Ted Barber of Prosperity Candle, Beth Spong of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee and Kat Hand of Berkshire Cider Project.

Listen as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in becoming and maintaining B Corp certified. The conversation highlights the value of this business model in creating positive social and environmental impact through business.

Feature with B Corps begins at (10:04 minutes)

Introduction to B Corps
Guest Introductions and Their Businesses
- Bridget Sprague: Vice President at Revision Energy, a solar company based in Maine and Massachusetts, B Corp since 2015, 100% employee-owned, nearly 500 employees.

Ted Barber: Co-founder of Prosperity Candle, B Corp since 2014, supporting refugees through handmade products.

Beth Spong: CEO of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, established in 1993, focusing on organic, fair trade coffee, and recently became a worker-owned cooperative.

Kat Hand: Co-founder of Berkshire Cider Project, B Corp since April 2023, focused on celebrating the Berkshire region through locally sourced hard cider.

Why They Became B Corps
- Bridget Sprague: To ensure accountability and maintain a high standard of business practices.
- Ted Barber: The combination of environmental sustainability and social impact aligned with their mission to support refugees.
- Beth Spong: To affirm their mission of social, economic, and environmental justice through specialty coffee.
- Kat: To align their business with personal values of sustainability and accountability.
Challenges and Wins as a B Corp
Community and Marketing Impact
The Panel Shares their Favorite B Corps

Find a B Corp in your Area and Industry

Go to the following website to find a B Corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/

Current list of Cider Brands certified as a B Corp

Berkshire Cider Project | Massachusetts Since 2023
Ernest Cider Ltd Since 2017
Ramborn Cider, Luxembourg Since 2020
FinnRiver Farm and Cidery, Washington state Since 2015
Sxollie, South Africa Since 2022

How to get Certified as a B Corp

Website: https://bcorporation.uk/b-corp-certification/what-is-a-b-corp/

Contact for B Corp Panel Speakers

Bridget Sprague – Revision Energy
- B Corp since 2015
  - Website: Revision Energy
Ted Barber – Prosperity Candle
- B Corp since 2014
  - Website: Prosperity Candle
Beth Spong – Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee
- B Corp since 2018
  - Website: Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee
Kat Hand – Berkshire Cider Project
- B Corp since 2023
  - Website: Berkshire Cider Project

Mentions in this Cider Chat

PA Cider Fest – June 15, 2024
Who’s been cross promoting cider #xpromotecider
French Cider Tour 2024