One of the best parts of being a B Corporation is the community of like-minded companies. So, starting today, Independence Day 2018, we're celebrating these independent businesses that operate with social impact in mind.
Our hope is that you will choose to learn more about them, and if you are seeking such a product or service, give them a shot.
Today, we kick off this series with Rivanna Natural Designs of Richmond, Virginia. https://rivannadesigns.com
Rivanna is both a Virginia Benefit Corporation, and a Certified B Corp. It is also a 100% woman-owned business that has been named Best for the World six years running!
Their business is pretty straight forward: They make awards, trophies and plaques. How they execute this business is anything but ordinary. And the more I learn about Rivanna, the more inspired I become.
Rivanna Natural Designs started in 2001 with a simple objective: To create green jobs for refugees and others in our community who needed safe, meaningful, and rewarding employment. They focused from the outset on creating green manufacturing jobs that provide flexible hours, living wages and decent benefits. And for more than a decade, they have succeeded wildly!
To quote Rivanna's website:
We're not your standard trophy shop.
Inspired by Nature. We design and build unique recognition products that honor our planet and celebrate the beauty of our natural world.
Designed for Good. Our elegant, planet-friendly awards will breathe new life, energy, and meaning into your award programs.
Made with Integrity. Since 2002, we've been making awards in America to create living-wage jobs for those who most need them.
Their website is a wealth of information on the company's commitment to ethical sourcing, transparent business practices and community engagement. You'll learn that nearly every employee that they have ever hired is still with the company today. You'll see that their beautiful products are all made here in America, and employ reclaimed or FSC-certified wood, hand-blown or post-consumer recycled glass, bamboo and other natural materials.
Congrats to you, Rivanna Natural Designs, for your commitment to sustainable and ethical business!
About their name: Taken from the Rivanna River which flows through the city of their first headquarters, Charlottesville, Virginia. The Rivanna, which is an abbreviation for “River Anna”, was named after the Queen of England. The headwaters of the Rivanna lie in the foothills and mountains west of Charlottesville, actually reaching the Eastern border of Shenandoah National Park and ultimately flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. The Rivanna was the State’s first governmentally-designated Scenic River. https://www.findyourchesapeake.com/places/rivanna-river-water-trail