Values-Driven Vital Proteins Earns B Corp Status
Vital Proteins’ wellness-focused collagen products have made it one of the fastest-growing Natural Products companies in the Chicago area, and a key supporter of Naturally Chicago. And its commitment to high standards of social and environmental impact now have earned it B Corp™ Certified status.
According to B Lab Global, which runs the program, “B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.”
Companies that aspire to B Corp status must exhibit high social and environmental performance and make a legal commitment to make their corporate governance structure accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
"Vital Proteins is proud to join a global community of businesses that are a force for good," said Tracey Warner Halama, Vital Proteins CEO and a member of the Naturally Chicago Board of Directors. "We know that this is just the beginning for us and that we have more work to do. The beauty of becoming a B Corp is that it pushes us to stay accountable, continuously evaluate our performance and show our progress over time."
Highlights of the 2021 assessment period cited by Vital Proteins include:
More than 59 percent of managerial workers are women
Vital Proteins' lowest paid hourly worker is compensated at least 50 percent more than the federal minimum wage and 33 percent more than the state minimum wage
More than 50.8 percent of energy use is produced from low-impact renewable sources
Up to 74 percent of product and packaging materials is made of recyclable or biodegradable materials in the areas where they are sold.
And the company isn’t stopping there. Its goals include:
Expanding employee monthly wellness stipends beyond gym memberships to include therapy, life coaching, tutoring, financial wellness coaching and healthy food subscriptions
Offering employees two paid service days per year to give back to their communities with over 700 hours volunteered by employees in 2022 to date
Removing plastic scoops from all applicable U.S. products, with the goal to be 100 percent scoopless by the end of 2023
Expanding parental leave for both parents beginning in November 2022
A healthcare travel reimbursement benefit, where employees and covered dependents can receive financial support for travel 60+ miles for healthcare-related needs
Naturally Chicago’s alliance with Premier sponsor Vital Proteins has produced two of our biggest live events at their beautiful headquarters in the Fulton Market District: the Winter Wellness Party in January 2020 and the Summer Solstice Soirée this past June.
We congratulate Vital Proteins and look forward to working together well into the future.
