Better World Books

Certified B Corporation
Headquarters

Indiana, United States

Certified Since

June 2008

Industry

Books or other media

Sector

Wholesale/Retail

Operates In

Canada,

France,

Germany,

Ireland,

United Kingdom,

United States

Better World Books (https://www.BetterWorldBooks.com) is a for-profit, socially conscious business and a global online bookseller that collects and sells new and used books online, matching each purchase with a book donation. Each sale generates funds for literacy and education initiatives in the U.S., the UK, and around the world. Since its launch in 2003, Better World Books has raised $35 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 38 million books, and reused or recycled more than 475 million books.

Overall B Impact Score

Based on the B Impact assessment, Better World Books earned an overall score of 110.6. The median score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9.
110.6
110.6 Overall B Impact Score
80 Qualifies for B Corp Certification
50.9 Median Score for Ordinary Businesses

Governance 18.7

Governance evaluates a company's overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. This section also evaluates the ability of a company to protect their mission and formally consider stakeholders in decision making through their corporate structure (e.g. benefit corporation) or corporate governing documents.

Mission & Engagement3.8
Ethics & Transparency4.9
+ Mission Locked10

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.


Workers 17.1

Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement & satisfaction. In addition, this section recognizes business models designed to benefit workers, such as companies that are at least 40% owned by non-executive employees and those that have workforce development programs to support individuals with barriers to employment.

Financial Security4.0
Health, Wellness, & Safety7.2
Career Development2.9
Engagement & Satisfaction2.9

Community 33.7

Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics include diversity, equity & inclusion, economic impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and supply chain management. In addition, this section recognizes business models that are designed to address specific community-oriented problems, such as poverty alleviation through fair trade sourcing or distribution via microenterprises, producer cooperative models, locally focused economic development, and formal charitable giving commitments.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion4.4
Economic Impact1.1
Civic Engagement & Giving4.5
Supply Chain Management0.6
+ Designed to Give21.3

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.


Environment 31.6

Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable its supply chain and distribution channels. This section also recognizes companies with environmentally innovative production processes and those that sell products or services that have a positive environmental impact. Some examples might include products and services that create renewable energy, reduce consumption or waste, conserve land or wildlife, provide less toxic alternatives to the market, or educate people about environmental problems.

Environmental Management3.8
Air & Climate8.7
Water1.0
Land & Life5.2
+ Resource Conservation12.6

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.


Customers 9.2

Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. In addition, this section recognizes products or services that are designed to address a particular social problem for or through its customers, such as health or educational products, arts & media products, serving underserved customers/clients, and services that improve the social impact of other businesses or organizations.

Customer Stewardship2.8
+ Education6.4

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.



Previous Overall B Impact Scores

2022 Overall B Impact Score110.6
2018 Overall B Impact Score114.7
2016 Overall B Impact Score114
2014 Overall B Impact Score113
2011 Overall B Impact Score122.4
2008 Overall B Impact Score109.6

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