Northwest Craft Producers Pursue B Corp Certification
As evidence of the Northwest craft communities’ commitment to social and environmental performance, public transparency and accountability, a growing number of alcoholic beverage companies have chosen to seek out B Corp™ certification. As of this writing, 8,223 global companies have qualified for this certification including 55 breweries, 46 distilleries, 46 wineries, 48 vineyards and 11 cideries.
What is B Corp certification? The process evaluates environmental and social factors, such transparency, customer satisfaction, environmental footprint, relationships with local suppliers and community leaders, and employee well-being. “B Corp certification doesn’t just prove where companies excel now — it also commits companies to their mission for the long term,” says the The B Lab website.
Laura Prendergast, marketing director for Finnriver Farm & Cidery, reflects how B Corporations provide a way for consumers to participate in a global cultural shift that redefines success in business and builds more inclusive and sustainable economies. “It is similar to buying organic in that the positive impact is not directly linked to the individual consumer but more impactful on the generations to come,” Prendergast says. “It’s an investment in the future by choosing a more sustainable and inclusive model.”
Northwest B Corp Wineries & Vineyards
Founded in 1993, the Stoller Wine Group is a collection of family-owned wine brands based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The goal of their proprietor, Bill Stoller, is to build a company that could last at least 200 years. In this long-term mission to take care of their land and community, Stoller Family Estate and Chehalem Winery sought B Corp certification.
Sokol Blosser Winery in Dayton, Oregon, obtained B Corp certification in 2015. The certification criteria reflects what their business philosophy has always been: taking care of the soil that grows their grapes and the people who make and sell their wine. “The key advantage of this certification but now we have an organized way to review everything we’re doing and consistently improve upon it,” says Christina Collins, marketing and social media coordinator.
Since achieving certification in 2019, April Abate, director of business development and education for Brooks Wine, believes that the largest benefit of being B Corp certified has unmistakably been the full transparency brought to their consumers regarding the company’s efforts toward sustainable and equitable business. “Also, as a business, a substantial benefit of B Corp certification was how it created a broader network of like-minded businesses with which Brooks can learn and collaborate,” April says.
The staff at Newberg, Oregon-based Et Fille Wines feels inevitably tied to their land, their community and the environment, and feel it is their responsibility to leave them in a better place for their children. Getting B Corp certified in 2022 by having an outside party evaluate their practices was a way to ensure these commitments were more than words, but were tied to real-life operations.
In May, Elk Cove Vineyards (Gaston, OR) will be celebrating both their 50th anniversary and hopefully final approval of their B corp certification. Other Northwest Certified B Corp wineries and vineyards include A to Z Wineworks (Oregon), Bainbridge Vineyards (Washington), David Hill Winery and Vineyards (Oregon), Townshend Cellar (Washington) and Winderlea Vineyard and Winery (Oregon).
Northwest B-Corp Distilleries
Already one of the leading players in the American Single Malt whiskey movement, Seattle based Westland Distillery achieved B Corp certification in February 2024 after an extensive review process that took about 400 hours. “Achieving B Corp status has been central to Westland’s mission since its inception, says managing director Jason Moore. “When we speak of being ‘thoughtfully made,’ we don’t just mean our award-winning single malt. We strive to be thoughtful throughout every aspect of our business.”
Westland follows in the footsteps of Adrift Distillers with the Adrift Hospitality Group achieving this certification in 2019. Also, Seattle-based Fast Penny Spirits became B Corp certified in 2022. For founder Jamie Hunt, B Corp certification means upholding elevated standards of social and environmental sustainability. “This enables us to signal our dedication to these values and collaborate with like-minded B Corps,” Hunt says. “Also, it offers the consumer a clear way to identify businesses committed to positive impact, empowering them to align their purchases with their values and contribute to a better world.”
Also, Portland based Straightaway Cocktails announced on May 13, 2024 that they achieved their B Corp certification making them the newest PNW craft producer to achieved this certification.
Northwest B Corp Breweries
At present, three Northwest breweries are certified B Corp. Aslan Brewing Company, an organic brewery in Bellingham, Washington, achieved this certification in January 2016. Being a B Corp keeps Aslan accountable for their impacts on their community, employees, and environment, says marketing director Georgi Shillington. “Having that B Corp logo on their beers helps them easily show consumers that they can trust Aslan to operate with integrity and that they have high standards for their business and beer,” she says.
In addition, Hopworks Urban Brewery (Oregon) and Lost Grove Brewing (Idaho) have achieved this certification.
Northwest B Corp Cideries
To date, Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum, Washington, remains the sole Northwest B Corp–certified cidery, having achieved this certification in 2015. Owner and founder Crystie Kisler observes how the B Corp model provided them with a language and a set of guidelines for operating as a triple-bottom-line business — balancing the needs of people, planet and profit. “We’ve learned a lot about how to operate with greater integrity and self-awareness as a company by getting exposed to best practices in environmental and social impacts as laid out by the B Corp frameworks,” says Kisler. “We want Finnriver to be a role model of a financially viable, community-oriented organic farm and craft cidery with a positive impact on our community. We are proud to have been the first B Corp cidery and to introduce this certification into the larger cider industry.”
