How Portland is leading the nation in social responsibility
It’s no secret that Portland is having a capital-m-Moment right now. Every time you blink there’s another New York Times article about our fabulous taxidermy stores and corned beef hash, and Portlandia’s sketch of Colin the chicken is so close to home it’s almost not funny to US locals.
But beneath the hipster buzz there is something much deeper and more exciting happening in Stumptown. Businesses are putting social responsibility into the core of their identities, which has created growing interest in becoming B Corporations and Benefit Companies: designations that recognize companies that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. As Oregon Governor Kate Brown said last year when Benefit Company legislation passed, “The overwhelming response to this new law demonstrates the vibrancy of Oregon’s innovative, socially responsible business community. Benefit Companies make a big difference in the community, creating jobs and acting socially responsible.”
It is this spirit that led B Lab to select Portland as the host city for this year’s Champion’s Retreat, which will gather hundreds of international socially responsible companies October 13-15.
“Oregon is a hotbed of innovation,” says Jay Coen Gilbert co founder of B Lab, the nonprofit that vets B Corporations. “It has the second highest concentration of Certified B Corporations in the country.”
This includes companies like gDiapers, who set out to reduce waste from conventional disposable diapers (the third largest contributors to landfills in the world) by creating a better way. And New Seasons Market, which not only sources organic groceries and donates 10% of profits to charitable organizations, but is also leading the northwest in pushing for a higher minimum wage.
At Idealist Consulting, we work mostly in the cloud so sustainability is a little more abstract, but we still see huge opportunity for tech companies to be purpose-driven.
As our CEO and Founder Rob Jordan says, “We want no less than to be the Tesla of technology consulting companies. Just like Tesla took a traditionally wasteful industry and figured out a way to create a more environmentally-friendly way, we aim to use our own emissions for good by directing profits back into the nonprofit community.”
So whether you’re in Portland for the Champion’s Retreat or just visiting for the weekend, by all means do sample the tater tots at 503 Burger Co., hike Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia Gorge, and sample the latest seasonal taps at Hopworks Urban Brewery...but also take note of the small and large ways that businesses here weave purpose into their lifeblood. It’s an exciting time to be a growing business in the Rose City.
The 2015 Champion’s Retreat is sold out but you can still get tickets for a day of B Inspired events on Thursday, October 15, which is open to the public. Get your tickets for the TED-style talks, street fair, and concert here. We’ll see you there!
