REBBL Appoints a Vice President of Impact

The Emeryville-based REBBL beverage company has just attained B Corp certification and expanded its team to include a new Vice President of Impact.

The company makes adaptogen-powered, coconut-milk-based, organic “super-herb” drinks using ingredients sourced from nearly thirty different countries. A percentage of sales is donated to its nonprofit partner, the anti-human-trafficking outfit Not For Sale. Last year, the company’s administrators signed a lease for a 5,500-square-foot Emeryville office.

Insiders call such purpose-driven business “impact work,” in that the choices made within such companies wield potentially wide social and environmental impact.

“When you choose REBBL, you choose to support values that we stand for,” said Librado Guerrero, senior vice president of REBBL’s supply chain.

“The impact of your purchase affects everyone involved in the supply chain, starting with the farmers, their families, and their communities. With each transaction, there’s a connection — that’s what makes REBBL special.”

For-profit companies can attain B Corp certification after attaining at least a minimum score in the B Lab review process comprising numerous “social and environmental performance” categories.

The idea behind B Corp certification is that it lends holders an extra layer of credibility. Over 2,600 companies in sixty countries, representing 150 different industries, currently hold B Corp certifications.

Read more about the social impact REBBL and Not For Sale have in the beverage industry here: http://www.oaklandmagazine.com/REBBL-Appoints-a-Vice-President-of-Impact/

This Week’s Recap: REBBL Organic Elixirs Celebrate B Corp Certification with New VP of Impact

Socially and environmentally conscious, adaptogen-powered beverage brand, REBBL, announces its B Corp Certification, as well as the expansion of its impact team to include a new Vice President of Impact. Combined, these powerful new developments will further bolster REBBL’s mission to generate positive social and environmental global impact. The purpose-driven company is helping eradicate human trafficking by impact sourcing its ingredients from nearly 30 countries around the world and donating 2.5% of all sales to the brand’s nonprofit partner, Not For Sale, which works to end exploitation and protect communities from human trafficking.

B Corp Certification through nonprofit, B Lab, requires a rigorous review process and self-assessment that measures a brand’s commitment to creating positive impact through accountability and transparency, commitment to social equality, employees and the environment. B Lab’s goal is to create a community of businesses that consider the impact company practices have on employees, suppliers, consumers and retailers and the global community and environment at-large. The brand received an Impact Assessment score of 117.3 (on a scale of 80 – 200), placing it 14 out of 159 in the food and beverage category.

“Impact work is woven into the very DNA of our brand,” explains REBBL Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, Librado Guerrero. “The B Corp Certification holds validity and credibility to work we prioritize: fair labor practices, transparency in supply chain, regenerative business practices, and community empowerment. B Corp Certification and the legal obligations of disclosure required by the affiliation help cement the practices and ethos that have been a part of REBBL from its beginning.”

Read more about REBBL and Not For Sale here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rebbl-organic-elixirs-celebrate-b-corp-certification-with-new-vp-of-impact-300735143.html

Have You Heard?: Just Business Is Not Business As Usual

Just Business, an investment company with headquarters in San Francisco, announced today that it has closed the seed round of its new Innovate For Good Fund. The $1.6m seed round is intended to accelerate the growth of early-stage enterprises that fit the mission of the fund to generate tangible impact while delivering a solid financial return for its investors.

Just Business is the independent investment arm of the international non-profit, Not For Sale. The investment firm is widely known for its incubation of REBBL, one of the most successful functional beverages in the USA market and a Guru client.

The Just Business “Origin Fund” also incubated Dignitá, a very successful restaurant enterprise headquartered in Amsterdam, and served as the sole investor to grow Square Organics.

“We are dedicated to bringing more dignity to people and planet,” says David Batstone, the managing partner and co-founder of Just Business, “and the best way to do that is to embed that mission into the core of business enterprises that we believe can scale.”

Read more about Just Business and Not For Sale here: http://weareguru.com/just-business-is-not-business-as-usual/

Just In Case You Forgot: Self Love Shoes By Z Shoes Organic

Often times today’s market makes customers feel that they need to buy more to be happy instead of reminding customers that they are enough. Many brands pressure consumers into believing they are not good enough and, in a sense, are against self love. Z Shoes Organic is defying this by crafting a shoe that represents positive values all around. Z Shoe’s new Self Love Collection features an ethically crafted sneaker that empowers, inspires, and encourages women to love themselves.

Z Shoes Organic empowers communities in developing areas through responsible material sourcing and craftsmanship of their sneakers. I am so in love with their new Self Love collection! The new leather sneakers were designed to encourage women to feel confident in their own skin and embrace being perfectly imperfect. The “#ZFORSHE” campaign launched during women’s empowerment month and has continued to give back through their donations. For each pairs of Self Love shoes sold, Z Shoes donates $5 toward empowering women around the world. Z Shoes has partnered up with 3 amazing NGO’s; Not For Sale, UN Women for Peace Association and World Wide Women. Each purchase directly supports their ongoing effort to empower women and create a world where no women is for sale.

Read more about Not For Sale in this awesome blog here: https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/blog/ethical-leather-sneakers

Dignita: Eat Well While Doing Good

Eat well while doing good! Almost everything is made from scratch at this lovely cafe and 100% of Dignita’s profits go towards supporting Not For Sale. Best of all – brunch all day!

DIGNITA • EAT WELL WHILE DOING GOOD

Have a delicious meal while supporting a terrific social enterprise at Dignita!

Almost everything is made from scratch at this lovely cafe. (with 2 locations!) And many of the ingredients are locally sourced from suppliers like Lindenhoff and Slagerij de Wit.

You’ll find coffee and tea, smoothies and juices on the menu – but you can also come for a cocktail or glass of wine. And best of all, brunch all day! There are a ton of seriously tasty options on the menu. I absolutely LOVED the courgette & chickpea fritters. And they were extremely filling.

Dignita has two yummy locations, one in Zuid near Vondelpark and one in the beautiful Hoftuin gardens behind the Hermitage. The Hoftuin location uses vegetables from the adjacent garden. They also have a play area for kids and a nice sunny terrace.

Dignita is part of the Not For Sale social enterprise organization. Not For Sale is a wonderful international organization that works with victims of human trafficking. Not for Sale provides work training programs and helps people become reintegrated into society. 100% of Dignita’s profits go towards supporting the work of Not For Sale.

Be sure to also visit the Dignita shop and small cafe in the Red Light District.

Read more about Not For Sale’s impact in Amsterdam here:

DIGNITA