By Molly Kennelly
As we enter this Thanksgiving season, many people give thanks by looking for ways to leave a positive mark on society and in their communities. Fortunately, there are many food companies that operate ethically and work with an impact in mind, allowing customers and investors to do well while eating well. The following four food companies represent social enterprises deserving of investment and B Corps, companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
1. Six Foods Chirps
Six Foods is a social enterprise that focuses on creating healthy, delicious, and sustainable foods using insects as ingredients. Their product, Chirps, is tortilla chips made out of crickets; it provides 20g of protein per bag. The use of crickets as a source of protein over beef products uses 2,000 times less water, while providing more protein and less fat than an equivalent serving. Using insects as an alternative to other meat products has positive effects on the environment by decreasing the amount of waste and greenhouse gas emissions created in the livestock industry. Investing in their company and their product can help them with their environmental mission. Check out their website here.
2. Sweet Bites
Former Hult Prize Winner, Sweet Bites is a social enterprise that sells chewing gum sweetened with xylitol, an ingredient that helps prevent bacteria growth and reproduction on teeth. The gum is sold to those at a low cost in impoverished populations who suffer from dental health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. In addition to providing the gum, the enterprise also recruits dental students to educate younger populations about the importance of oral care and how chewing the gum after a meal can help prevent dental issues later in life. Investments to their enterprise help them employee the students and continue to offer Sweet Bites at a low cost. Find some photos and news on their website.
3. Yumbutter
Yumbutter is a B Corp selling nut butters with what they call a “Buy One: Feed One” business model. Every jar or pouch of their product purchased provides a donation to a Primeros Pasos, a nonprofit organization in Guatemala that provides care to malnourished children and their mothers. Through sales of their nut butter products, they have been able to feed over 150,000 children since 2015 and their impact continues to grow. Their six flavors of nut butters are also made to be clean, healthy, and fair, and are made at facilities that provide jobs for individuals with disabilities. Their nut butters can be purchased on their website, or in many retailers around the nation including Target. Buy your Yumbutter products online or find retail locations near you.
4. Boston Organics
Boston Organics is a B Corp offering a grocery delivery service to those in the greater Boston area, selling fresh produce from organic farms and wholesalers. The company focuses on sustainability and being environmentally friendly through recycling, composting and making deliveries using cargo bikes. Boston Organics also donated over 50,000 pounds of produce through a partnership with Food for Free, an organization that focuses on decreasing food waste and offering produce for local emergency food systems. Produce boxes can be purchased on their website for individuals, families, or for the office. To sign up or learn more, visit their website.
