How to be a part of the 'B the Change' movement

Impact. Doing. People. Planet. Meaningful. Good.

And, of course, benefit.

These are the words driving the first consumer-facing B the Change campaign launched this week by B Lab, the organization behind the 7-year-old Certified B Corporation designation.

The campaign brings together 900 Certified B Corporation businesses to promote the organization's cause of sustainable business to consumers. Additionally, B Lab has planned a yearlong media campaign (see some of the ads in the above gallery) and created a special web promo, bthechange.com. Meanwhile, 16 businesses have created special edition products.

“It’s inspiring to see nearly 1,000 companies speaking out with one, unified voice, all in an effort to celebrate and reward people using business as a force for good,” B Lab Co-Founder Jay Coen Gilbert said via press release.   

Oregon-based New Seasons Market and the National Cooperative Grocers Association, themselves Certified B Corporations, are planning B corp promotions in March and April, respectively.

Natural foods retailers, too, can support the cause by selling the special products and planning promotions of their own, said Vale Jokisch, B Lab’s director of services. And promoting good is good business. B corp product sales reached $1.2 billion in 2012, a 15 percent increase over 2011, according to SPINS.

In-store promos could include:

B Lab is coming out with a complete retail promotion toolkit including ideas and ready-made signage.

Food brands launching promotional B the Change items include Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Coda Coffee, HappyFamily, Numi Organic Tea, Pacific Northwest Kale Chips, Peeled Snacks and Plum Organics.