Social responsibility and environmental friendliness are watch words for some businesses. But a new law in Vermont gives companies the option to take their commitment a step further. It’s called the Vermont Benefit Corporations Act. It enables companies to officially make social causes part of their business mission. That’s been something many companies have done on a less formal basis up until now
Will Patten is the executive director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, the group that lobbied hard for the law. Don Mayer is the owner of Small Dog Electronics, who plans to change his company’s charter to become a Benefit Corporation.
They spoke with VPR’s Steve Zind about the idea behind Vermont’s new law for so-called benefit corporations.