Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods, the world’s largest hemp food manufacturer to grow, make and sell its own line of hemp food products has achieved B Corporation Certification. B Corporations (B Corps) are a new category of company, which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Certified B Corps are purpose-driven and create benefits for all stakeholders—not just shareholders.

“We strive to be ‘world-class’ at everything we do. B Corp Certification encourages us to continually evaluate our practices and helps ensure we continue to live up to the highest standards possible,” explained Mike Fata, cofounder and CEO of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods.

Certified B Corporations meet rigorous stands of social and environmental performance, legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests, and build a collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of January 2014, there are more than 900 Certified B Corporations from over 60 industries and 32 counties, representing a diverse multi-billion dollar marketplace.

B Corps are certified by B Lab. B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement to redefine success in business so that companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the best for the world. B Lab drives this systemic change through: building a community of Certified B Corps making it easier to identify the difference between “good companies” and good marketing; passing legislation to accelerate the growth of social entrepreneurship and impact investing; developing B Analytics – a customizable platform for measuring, benchmarking, and reporting on impact; and providing free, powerful tools for businesses to measure, compare, and improve their social and environmental performance.

“We have always subscribed to the triple bottom line approach of people, planet and profit, so becoming B Corp Certified was a no-brainer,” said Fata. “Becoming part B Corp certified signifies our desire to join together with likeminded companies and use business as a force for good.”