Gemline (PPAI 113948, Platinum) – the No. 11 supplier in the PPAI 100 – has announced that it has earned Certified B Corporation status, arguably the gold standard in corporate social responsibility.

The Lawrence, Massachusetts-based firm says the certification, which is largely considered the most difficult to attain, underscores the company’s commitment to balancing profit with purpose and driving meaningful social and environmental impact through its business operations.


“Becoming a B Corp highlights Gemline’s commitment to setting a higher standard for corporate responsibility,” says Frank Carpenito, president and CEO of Gemline. “We’re proud to be the first and only major promotional products supplier to earn this certification, proving that industry leadership and responsible business practices can go hand in hand.

“As Gen Z and Millennials continue to raise the bar for companies and brands, they desire to do business with, Gemline is now better positioned than ever to be the CSR/ESG destination of choice for our distributor partners.”

What Is B Corp Certification?

As of October 2024, there are more than 9,000 B Corporations across 105 countries, according to certification founder B Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to helping companies balance profit with purpose.

  • Some of the most high-profile B Corps include Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s and Eileen Fisher.


Rather than measuring environmental impact alone, the designation signifies that a company is meeting “high standards” of accountability, transparency and verified performance in a variety of factors, such as supply chain practices, charity work and employee benefits.

Several promo firms have achieved B Corp certification in recent years, including Fairware, Genumark, Brand Fuel, Full Line Specialties, Raining Rose, Chameleon Like, McCabe Promotional, Eco Promotional Products and more.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Gemline into the B Corp community,” says Max Hayes, community growth manager at B Lab U.S. & Canada. “Its commitment to social and environmental excellence clearly demonstrates leadership in responsible business practices.”

Trust The Process

Established in 2006, B Corp certification has become so highly regarded because of its onerous and time-consuming process. For example, Brand Fuel began the process more than a decade ago, finally earning certification in September 2022.

The process consists of three steps:

  • Achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing the risk review.
  • Making a legal commitment by changing corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders rather than just shareholders, as well as achieving benefit corporation status if available in your jurisdiction.
  • Exhibiting transparency by allowing information about performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on your B Corp profile on B Lab’s website.


The first step is the most difficult because the B Impact Assessment tool measures your company’s practices and outputs across five categories: governance, workers, community, the environment and customers.

Applicants are not only grilled with a series of questions based on each category, but also must provide documentation to verify their answers. A full-time job in and of itself, the process is best carried out by teams consisting of employees from different departments.

Here are some sample questions:

  • What percentage of management is from underrepresented populations?
  • What portion of your management is evaluated in writing on their performance with regard to corporate, social and environmental targets?
  • Does your company monitor and record its universal waste production?
  • How do you verify that your product improves the impact of your client organizations?


After an analyst reviews the initial answers, it’s time for follow-up questions and requests for more data. The lengthy, back-and-forth process requires applicants to perform their due diligence regarding every aspect of their operation.