Lulu Is Now a Certified B Corp!
Lulu is proud to announce we recently received certification as a B Corporation. This makes Lulu the first online publishing company to achieve B Corp status. This prestigious designation goes to a select few companies. We harness the power of business while observing higher standards of performance, transparency, and accountability. All are done to solve social and environmental problems.
Becoming a B Corp
Lulu pioneered the knowledge-sharing economy when it introduced free online publishing to the world.
From Lulu Founder Bob Young:
Lulu’s original intent was to remove barriers to publishing so that all authors could tell their story and profit from their knowledge. Little did we know, the print-on-demand business model we developed would eventually save millions and millions of trees from being turned into books no one wanted
Young refers to recently released statistics stating that approximately 40% of all books printed by traditional publishers go unsold. Retailers will pulp these unsold books. Hundreds of millions of books. All are printed, shipped, shelved, returned, and pulped each year. About 13% of the paper in every book you buy is composed of recycled paper generated by this pulping process. The rest comes from our forests.
Lulu & B Corp
Lulu’s business model prevents this horrendous waste of natural resources through the use of print-on-demand technology. Books ordered from the Lulu bookstore are printed when they are purchased. And we use certified sustainable paper products that are shipped directly from the printer to the buyer. Simple practices to reduce Lulu’s, and our authors’ and their readers’ carbon footprint.
“We always knew that Lulu was environmentally friendly, but as we worked through the B Corp certification process, we learned of the additional impact we can make each day through fair business practices and community involvement,” said Nigel Lee, Lulu CEO.
To encourage greater community involvement, all Lulu employees are given three paid volunteer days per year to help others in their communities. Employees can participate in Lulu-sponsored group activities or share their skills with organizations close to their hearts.
“Lulu is committed to improving our B-Corp scores,” Lee continues. “By trying a little harder each day to achieve this goal, we will make the world better today than it was yesterday. We do that one story, one tree, one classroom, one community, and one paid volunteer day at a time. It’s part of our story. What’s yours?”
About B Corp
Certified B Corporations meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and build a collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. Today, there is a growing community of more than 1,600 Certified B Corps from 42 countries and over 120 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine business success.
About B Lab
B Lab is a nonprofit organization serving a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World® and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. Learn more bout B Lab.
