79 businesses across 39 industries and 6 countries part of the ‘B Corp Best for Workers List’. Azavea joins Etsy, Dansko and Change.org in this prestigious list.

Philadelphia, PA, September 3, 2013 – Today, 79 companies across 39 industries and 6 countries were recognized for creating the most positive impact for their workers by the nonprofit B Lab, with the release of the ‘B Corp Best for the Workers List’, the third installment in its 2013 ‘B Corp Best for the World’ series.  Azavea, an award-winning geographic data analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) software development firm based in Philadelphia, announced it was selected for this list.

Companies earning this honor include fast-growing venture-backed e-commerce businesses like Etsy, well known employee-owned brands including Dansko, King Arthur Flour, and New Belgium Brewing Company, and worker-cooperatives Cooperative Home Care Associates, Home Care Associates, and Namaste Solar.  25% of honorees are based outside the US, including 14 Canadian companies and a telecommunications company in Afghanistan (Roshan), a recycling company in Chile (Triciclos), and an investor in smallholder farmers in Kenya (Juhudi Kilimo). 

The ‘B Corp Best for Workers List’ honors businesses that earned an overall score in the top 10% of all Certified B Corporations for their positive impact on their workforce, as measured by the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive assessment used by more than 10,000 businesses to measure their impact on their workers, community, and the environment.  This analysis includes metrics regarding worker ownership, compensation and benefits, management and worker communication, training and education, work environment, and occupational health and safety.

Azavea’s mission is to create more dynamic, vibrant, and sustainable communities while advancing the state-of-the-art through research.  This mission extends to its work environment.  Investing in a stimulating, intellectually challenging and open environment for their employees is an explicit objective for the firm.  Azavea’s benefits include an open office layout, monthly Brown Bag Lunches, annual training and continuing education budget, and a 10% research time program.  The company strives to create a place where smart people can collaborate more effectively and feel intellectually stimulated.

Like each honoree on the list, Azavea is a Certified B Corporation, a new type of company that uses the power of business for good and meets rigorous standards of overall social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.  Today there are over 800 Certified B Corporations across more than 60 industries and 27 countries, unified by the common goal to redefine success in business.

”I am proud to have Azavea included in the Best for the World list.  B Corporations are aimed at building companies that serve a broad definition of stakeholders, rather than just shareholders.  Our employees are very important stakeholders in the success of the business, and they have been the key to the company’s growth over time.”

In April, B Lab recognized 67 companies as ‘Best for the World’ (overall impact); in June, 63 companies as ‘Best for the Environment’; and in November, will release a final 2013 list recognizing companies as ‘Best for Communities’.

The full ‘B Corp Best for Workers List’ is available at: http://bestfortheworld.bcorporation.net/2013-best-for-the-world-worker-honorees.html

About Azavea – Azavea is an award-winning geospatial data analysis and software development firm.  Azavea is a certified B Corporation that applies geographic data and technology to promote the emergence of vibrant and sustainable communities while advancing the state-of-the-art through research.  Each of Azavea’s projects, products and pro bono engagements showcases this commitment.  Find out more at https://www.azavea.com.

If you would like more information about Azavea or to schedule an interview with Robert Cheetham, Azavea CEO and President, please contact Amy Trahey at (215) 558-6184 or e-mail atrahey@azavea.com.

About B Lab – B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement to redefine success in business.  Its vision is that one day all companies will compete not only to be the best in the world, but best for the world.

B Lab drives this systemic change through a number of interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations who lead this movement and make it easier to tell the difference between “good companies” and good marketing; 2) passing benefit corporation legislation to create a new kind of corporation legally required to create value for society, not just shareholders; 3) helping businesses and investors assess, compare, and increase their impact through use of the B Impact Assessment, a free educational tool, and the B Analytics, a flexible, customizable data platform. Find out more at http://www.bcorporation.net/

For more information about the ‘B Corp Best for the World’ series, please contact Katie Kerr at (610) 293-0299 or e-mail katie@bcorporation.net

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