40 | BOROMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2015 GREEN LIVING Impact Astori a: Better Business through B Corps – Dapple Baby Western Queens’ character comes from the businesses across the neighborhood and the people who own them. There are some businesses that take their community impact to a level where they can create a great product and do it for good. This type of business is known as a B Corporation (benefit corporation), a for-profit corporate entity that includes positive impact on society and the environment in addition to profit as its legally defined goals. I’ve admired B Corps for some time and was thrilled when I came across Dapple Baby, whose mission for a healthier world for children has come through in their products, which got its start in Long Island City. Dapple is a line of plant-based cleaning products created by moms, for moms, that are baby-safe and baby-specific. When Dapple’s founders, Dana Rubinstein and Tamar Rosenthal, first became moms, they found a market full of “baby-friendly” products. But there weren’t any specific products for cleaning all those baby bottles, cups and dishes. Regular dish soaps left behind some lingering smells—a less-than-pleasing bouquet of synthetic fragrances and persistent odor, plus a film that never seemed to come off. So they created a line of products that were plant-based and safe for babies, specifically targeted to clean their “unique” messes. And that’s how Dapple was born. Becoming a B Corp, rather than a standard for-profit company, was an easy choice for Dapple. Jeremy Pertman, Dapple’s COO, has seen many advantages to being a B Corp. “The best part of it,” Pertman says, “is to be in the company of amazing businesses and to be able to network with fellow entrepreneurs who have similar outlooks on life.” In Long Island City, Dapple found a great home to build its base of support. “LIC was a very good home to Dapple for many years,” says Jen Jacob, Dapple’s brand ambassador. “It was a growing community, so Dapple didn’t feel squashed by the mega corporations and it allowed for growth.” In fact, Dapple grew so much that it ended up moving its offices to Tribeca just under a year ago. Despite the move, Dapple has not forgotten its LIC roots and the community that helped it get its start. While in LIC, Dapple worked with local organizations, particularly Material for the Arts, New York’s premier reuse center, which provides a way for companies and individuals to donate unneeded supplies to thousands of nonprofit organizations with arts programming and public schools. “We donated a lot to them,” Pertman says. “It’s a very cool organization.” One of the things that Dapple prides itself most on is security. “Dapple gives each family the security that their house is clean of toxins and cleaning fluids that are dangerous and potentially fatal to anyone, let alone young ones,” Jacob says. “We also participate in sampling and donation of full-size products. Whether that be to families that need it most or to events raising money for different needs, we are always on the lookout for donation opportunities.” Better business through B Corps is possible and Dapple is a company that proves it. If you’re starting a business, here are three easy ways to see if a B Corp is the right model for you:
BM102015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above