SCS Earns B Corporation Certification and is Among the First Benefit Corporations Recognized by the State of California

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has earned Certified B Corporation status, and in a ceremony today in Sacramento, was officially recognized as a California Benefit Corporation under the recently enacted AB 361 legislation.

“We’re proud to be part of the growing community of companies explicitly organized to meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability,” said Dr. Stanley Rhodes, founder and CEO of SCS.

“B Corp certification is an official recognition of the vision we have always had for SCS as a driver of sustainable business practices,” said Linda Brown, the company's co-founder and Executive Vice President.

SCS has been a pioneer in the field of third-party certification of food safety and quality, environmental and sustainability accomplishments for nearly three decades, and continues to break new ground with programs and standards that encourage leadership in sustainability. SCS currently provides services under 16 internationally recognized accreditations. In addition, SCS was named in both 2010 and 2011 as one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies in the US.

Certified B Corporations conduct business for the benefit of people and the environment, with products and services that promote sustainability and transparency. The certification was granted by B Lab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. To earn the certification, SCS was successfully reviewed against a set of social and environmental impact criteria.

In becoming certified, SCS joins an elite community of businesses representing more than 50 industries, $2 billion in collective revenues and $6.5 billion in capital under management. 
Under the new State of California legislation, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in October 2011, legally recognized California Benefit Corporations will in the long term enjoy tax incentives, procurement preferences, and eligibility for participation in a social stock exchange for sustainable businesses.

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing and standards development since 1984. SCS programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, retailing and more. http://www.scscertified.com

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.