The B Corporation Mindset: Bigelow Tea's Commitment to Making a Difference

At Bigelow Tea, third generation president and CEO, Cindi Bigelow, carries on her grandmother’s legacy by giving back to people and the planet simply because it’s the right thing to do. As a result, the company has been a Certified B Corporation since 2019 which proves how intentional the company remains behind a commitment to a purpose far beyond making profits where Bigelow Tea’s aim is to always do better.

Join us in learning more about why being a Certified B Corporation is important to us.

What is a B Corp?

As a B Corp, we adhere to the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability through a rigorous assessment overseen by the B Lab, a nonprofit that certifies for-profit companies. The Assessment evaluates Bigelow’s practices and outputs across five impact areas including governance, employees, community, the environment, and customers.

B Lab is a non-profit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab's vision is of an inclusive and sustainable economy that creates a shared prosperity for all.

Bigelow Tea and B Corp Certification

Our journey as a B Corp began several years ago when we first embarked on the path to certification. We saw it as an opportunity to not only assess our existing business practices but also to identify areas where we could make a positive impact. Over time, we have made significant progress, from the creation of our Corporate Responsibility Department to achieving recertification as a Certified B Corporation in 2022.

Bigelow's B Corp Journey:

• 2012: Bigelow Tea as a company first asked, 'What's a B Corp?' Around the world, companies were becoming B Corp Certified. Cindi Bigelow began to look at the certification requirements as a playbook to identify what was being done well as a company and where the company could do better.

• 2015: The Bigelow Tea Corporate Responsibility Department was created.

• 2019: Bigelow Tea became a Certified B Corp as practices related to workers, suppliers, the environment, and the community were evaluated.

• 2022: Bigelow Tea became recertified as a B Corp.

• 2023: Always striving for continuous improvement, Bigelow Tea has used the assessment as a tool to celebrate strengths and identify areas of opportunity. As a result, the company, building off of principles established 80 years ago by founder Ruth Campbell Bigelow, has established a road map to identify short- and long-term goals.

• 2025: Bigelow Tea will aim to recertify in 2025.
  

Why It Matters

Bigelow Tea’s commitment to positive change goes beyond certification. It is woven into the fabric of who we are as a company. From greening initiatives that minimize our environmental footprint to community outreach programs that support local nonprofits, we are dedicated to making a difference in the world around us. Examples of Bigelow Tea driving positive impact over the years include the following:

• Achieved Green-E® certification by powering facilities with 100% renewable energy. Notably, the Charleston Tea Garden, a subsidiary of Bigelow Tea, became Green-E certified as well in 2023.

• Maintained Zero-Waste-to-Landfill facilities since 2014, ensuring 90% of our waste is diverted from landfills through reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost programs. Methods of redirecting waste include reusing, recycling, and converting waste to animal feed.

• Contributed over $2.5 million to local nonprofits through our annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge (BTCC), a community-supported road race and walk, that supports numerous Connecticut based non-profits since 1988.

• Bigelow hosts Wellness programs including Flu Shot Clinics, Biometric Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, and Lunch and Learns featuring topics including mental health and financial wellness.

• Throughout the year, Green Teams host programs to help employees adopt sustainable practices at home and in the office. The Bigelow Green Team and Plant Management collaborate on eco-trivia programs, with 100% of plant employees completing eco-trivia about the impact of waste and efforts at Bigelow to manage it all sustainably.

• Employees raise awareness and give back to their local communities with initiatives such as walking in the Pink Pledge Stroll hosted by the Norma Pfriem Breast Center in multiple locations, volunteering at Rake Up Boise where thousands of volunteers rake yards for veteran, disabled, and senior neighbors each November in Boise, Idaho, harvesting produce from the employee community garden which is then donated to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, in Bridgeport, CT, and volunteering at Home of the Innocents to wrap gifts and assist with holiday programming in Louisville, Kentucky. 

• Bigelow Tea also gives back to our troops. Through our Tea for the Troops program, the company donates up to 50,000 boxes of tea annually to active military personnel and veterans. 

Under Cindi Bigelow's leadership, governance at Bigelow Tea means:

• Integrity in business decisions — Upholding the highest standards for ethical sourcing, sustainable packaging, and corporate responsibility.

• Employee well-being — Creating a workplace that values its people, from fair wages to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.

• Long-term commitment — Making decisions that ensure Bigelow Tea remains family-owned and operated while continuing to innovate and grow responsibly.

• Sustainable impact — Holding itself accountable to B Corp standards by reducing waste, lowering its carbon footprint, and continuously finding ways to do better for people and the planet.
  

Bigelow Tea’s Commitment to Customers:

• Uncompromising Quality — From sourcing the finest tea leaves to expert blending, every detail is carefully considered to provide a consistent, high-quality experience.

• Ingredient Transparency — Customers deserve to know what's in their tea which is labeled on each box. Bigelow Tea is committed to ethical sourcing, and sustainable practices that consumers can trust.

• Sustainable Packaging — By investing in responsible, eco-friendly packaging.

•  Bigelow Tea helps reduce waste while maintaining the freshness tea lovers expect.

• Engaging with the Community — Through initiatives like Tea for the Troops and ongoing charitable partnerships, Bigelow Tea goes beyond business to give back.

• Listening to Customers — The Bigelow family values customer feedback, using it to innovate and create new flavors that meet evolving preferences and wellness needs.
  
  

What Does Being a B Corp Mean to Our Employees?

Every March, B Lab and the global B Corp community join together to celebrate what it means to be a B Corp, build awareness, and educate diverse audiences on the importance of transforming our economic system for the better. This annual celebration reminds us that B Corp Certification isn't a destination—it's an invitation to join the journey to better business.

"Being a B Corp reassures me that our organization values our impact on the environment and society the way I do." — Taylor L

"I am proud to work for a B Corp because it means we are all working together for the betterment of our environment." — Crystal N

"It means our employees are asking and acting on how we can use our business to make the world a better place. It's a collective effort which people at every level of our company take very seriously." — Rachael R

As third generation president and CEO, Cindi Bigelow, often says, "Our mission calls for making a difference every day." And for Bigelow Tea, being a B Corp is a true expression of that mission—a commitment to using business as a force for good, now and in the future.

"Being certified, and now recertified as a B Corp through B Lab officially recognizes a commitment that has been part of the company's DNA since it was founded by my grandmother, Ruth Campbell Bigelow, 80 years ago. Re-certification proves how intentional we remain behind our commitment to a purpose far beyond making profits, and our aim to always do better. We're committed to good citizenship, ethical business practices, accountability and transparency, protecting the environment, sustainability and supporting our communities." - Cindi Bigelow