A Better way to do Business
Better World Books
Founding B Corporation
B Impact Report Highlights
Environment: 79 million books reused or recycled, saving landfills
Employees: Added 91 Jobs during recession (33% growth); 64% of employees have ownership in the company; >50% of health insurance covered for employees and their families, >25% of new positions were filled in with internal candidates
Community: Over $11MM raised for global literacy and local libraries; >10% suppliers are located in low-income communities
About Better World Books
Better World Books is a unique Social Enterprise - a triple bottom line business where creating a nursing library in Somaliland, supporting employees with profit sharing and equity ownership opportunities, and shipping book orders carbon-balanced are not just a by-product of doing business – they are the business. We’re not a company with an add-on “cause” component. We create social good and protect the environment through our regular business transactions.
We became a Founding B Corporation because, simply put, we believe that we are a different type of business. Our triple bottom line business model — as well as our Book for Book initiative — separates us from our competitors. While we do provide wealth for our shareholders, we also benefit our literacy partners, our employees and our environment through the course of our everyday business. So far we've distributed over $11 million to literacy initiatives, donated over 6 million books to those in need, and reused or recycled over 70 million books that would have likely ended up in landfills.
If doing good is such a core focus, why isn't Better World Books a non-profit? Because they understand that profitable business gives them the staying power and growth potential to make a huge difference. The better their business, the bigger their impact. By accounting for and supporting their long-term viability and proving that social good is good business, profit takes on a much broader and richer meaning... for ALL involved.
