GorpCore that’s B Corp
8 B Corp Certified Outdoor Brands That We Love
66° North 2. Burton 3. Ombraz 4. Db Bags 5. Finisterre 6. Dr. Bronners 7. Kinfield 8. Bombas
When purchasing gear, outerwear, or anything that supports your adventure lifestyle, there’s a good chance you generally access if a company is “good” or “bad.” Is the brand more of a “SheIn” or a “Patagonia”? A recent study claimed that 78% of people feel that sustainability is important. While sustainability doesn’t always drive purchasing decisions, 84% said “that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company.” As recreationalists who enjoy spending time outdoors, we want to know that the brands we support are trustworthy and at a minimum, better than “ok.”
As brands are increasingly under fire to act responsibly, more companies are seeking third-party certifications to validate their values. B-Corp Certification is one of the most well-known and comprehensive certifications, assessing a business's holistic environmental and social impact.
What is B-Corp Certification?
The “B” stands for Benefit Corporation, and the non-profit’s mission is to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. This is done through a certification process, where companies are assessed to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Companies accrue an accumulative score based on their impact across five categories- Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. The higher the score, the better.
Example of Dr. Bronners incredible impact score.
What does it take to become B-Corp certified?
To achieve certification, brands must monitor and document all facets of their business. Certified brands are required to post their impact reports publicly and are legally required to structure their businesses to consider all stakeholders. This ensures that as B Corps grow and evolve, they remain legally accountable to workers, communities, customers, suppliers and the environment—not just shareholders. This also generate a clear vision of a brands opportunities for improvement. Skeletons come out of the closet, and it can be shocking. This process dives into the entire supply chain and evaluates everything from materials, carbon emissions, and labor standards. All brands must re-certify every three years, ensuring accountability. B-Corp prefaces that business is never perfect and encourages consistent and incremental improvements.
One note: Being B-Corp certified doesn’t necessarily mean a brand's products are sustainable. Rather, it confirms the brand is commited to operating in a more responsible manner.
What outdoor brands are B-Corp Certified?
The two most well-known B-Corp outdoor brands are Cotopaxi and Patagonia. Business for good is integrated into both brands' DNA and public perception. Patagonia famously donated all profits to combat climate change. Cotopaxi continues to fight global poverty and uplift marginalized communities.
Below are 8 more B-Corps that may surprise you. These are some of our favorite brands, handpicked for their style, durability, and versatility.
Travel gear made for the journey. Designed in Scandanivia, Db delivers high-quality adventure travel gear with an emphasis on better materials and a design philosophy based on durability, functionality, and timeless aesthetics. If you are planning a surf or snow trip, DB has luggage solutions for the journey.
Iceland is known for many things, but copious sunshine is not one of them. 66° North is a heritage brand with decades of experience creating durable outerwear that stands up the harsh weather conditions of the northerly positioned nation. Clean design, high quality, and premium, sustainable fabrics are the foundation this Icelandic staple.
The original armless sunglass company, Ombraz brought innovation to a category that’s been doing the same thing since the beginning of time. Ombraz is committed to carbon sequestration and their sunglasses are carbon-negative. They also are a 1% for the planet member.
The OG hippie brand launched soap as part of a plan to spread world peace. Dr. Bronner’s all-in-one magic soap can be found in backpacks and camp kitchens around the world. Tackling armpits and dishes, Dr. Bronners biodegradable suds are a tried and true camping staple. Yes, soap is a more simple manufacturing process compared to apparel, but, the brand started with a strong moral compass in the 1960’s and has never strayed.
Burton is no stranger to being a pioneer. Burton has arguably done more than any other brand to help grow snowboarding, through advocating for resorts to allow snowboarding and addressing the need to grow and diversify snowboarding. Burton is also the world’s first B-Corp certified snowboard brand.
Finisterre is an English brand inspired by surf and exploration with a deep commitment to sustainability. The adventure-ready swim wear and apparel features recycled and renewable materials. In 2018, Finisterre became the first outdoor clothing company in the UK to be B-Corp certified.
Kinfield makes sustainable and effective skincare products for the outdoors. Their award winning clean bug spray uses sustainably sourced plant ingredients. For Kinfield, sustainability was never a “nice to have,” but a necessity.
Bombas was built on a One Purchased = One Donated business model. Socks and underwear are the top requested items at homeless shelters, and Bombas has donated over 100 million items to those in need.
As of 2023, over 8,500 businesses were B-Corp certified. As B-Corp expands and is adopted by more businesses, it has been questioned whether it’s standards are “enough.” B-Corp is continuously revisiting it’s standards for the modern economy. As the global economy continues to expand, more responsibility must be taken to address manufacturing’s impact on the world. The fashion industry contributes 10% of global emissions, and is rapidly increasing.
Some brands that are pioneering the sustainable revolution are foregoing B-Corp certification and are pursuing arguably more rigorous and focused certifications. Houdini Sportswear, a true innovator in cirularity and sustainable materials, is working towards a Planetary Boundaries Assessment. Kelly Slater’s brand, Outerknown, touted for it’s commitment to sustainable principles, is Fair Trade Certified and focuses on Fair Labor practices.
What B-Corp certification does do, is signal that a brand is willing to put thier entire biz on display to earn your trust.