I met up with Aslan’s Marketing Director, CJ Good, last week for the canning of Aslan Brewing’s popular Dawn Patrol. We all shotgunned a can off the line and talked about what was in store for Aslan in 2016. When Jack, Frank, Pat and Boe started Aslan they knew they wanted to be a different company, one that wasn’t solely
focused on the bottom line. They wanted to be a part of the community, give back and impact people outside of their community.
Every decision made at Aslan Brew, no matter how small it may seem, must be made with a conscious mind. We understand that we are often gifted the power to influence our friends and neighbors, and there is nothing more sustainable than insuring that everything we do will benefit us all in the long run. – Jack Lamb, Owner & CEO
To them, being a certified organic brewery was a great start to accomplishing this. They also knew that they could make an even greater impact by not being just a business that paid the bills and made money. They wanted to take greater steps, be held to a higher standard. Becoming a Certified B Corporation means they have been recognized for “highest standards of social and environmental performance.” It’s kind of like the USDA’s certified organic certification, but for a business, not just beer.
B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on their shareholders, but also on their stakeholders (e.g., workers, suppliers, community, consumers, and the environment).
Good told me Aslan had to follow a rigorous check list that showed the B Corp organization that Aslan wasn’t just talking about being a socially and environmentally conscious business, but actually doing it. The check list ensured that Aslan, who was already a very transparent company, deserved the title.
This shows Aslan is dedicated to caring for it’s 50+ employees, the community and the environment. They were already taking steps towards an equitable and fair work place. For instance, CJ told me that the difference between the highest paid and lowest paid employee is only $10,000. This morning Aslan sent out their official press release announcing their B Corp Certification. Aslan is
..proud to announce in January 2016 that it is the first company in Bellingham, WA to achieve B Corp certification, and is one of 4 in Whatcom County. The certification acknowledges the company’s commitment to social and environmental ethics, transparency and accountability. Aslan Brewing joins over 1,500 Certified B Corporations from more than 120 industries in nearly 50 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business. Certified B Corporations have met rigorous standards that measure a company’s impact on its employees, suppliers, community, and the environment. The designation places it among an elite, vetted group of companies committed to being a force for good and creating value for society beyond profit alone.
Creating a truly green business goes far beyond sustainable raw inputs and outputs. Rather, commitment toward preserving local management, helping the community, and respecting the needs of our own workforce are a few of the many elements that make a Aslan Brewing Company special.
Aslan Brewing became a B Corp by going through the rigorous inspection via B Lab.
B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of People Using Business as a Force for Good. Its vision is that one day all companies will compete to be Best for the World and as a result society enjoys a shared and durable prosperity. B Lab drives this systemic change through a number of interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and good marketing; 2) promoting usage of Mission Aligned corporate structures to increase efficacy of social entrepreneurship and impact investing (more than 2,000 benefit corporations have been registered in the 27 states and District of Columbia that have passed benefit corporation laws); 3) promoting Measure What Matters campaigns to increase use of free, powerful tools for businesses to measure, compare and improve their social and environmental performance (more than 20,000 businesses use B Lab’s free B Impact Assessment). 4) developing B Analytics, a customizable platform to help investors and institutions measure, benchmark, and report on the impact of the businesses with whom they work and in whom they invest.
Aslan Brewery joins only seven US breweries, including New Belgium and Hopworks as B Corp. Drop on by the brewery and congratulate Aslan for taking steps be positively impact their community!