Being a B Corporation certifies that our business does good stuff (like taking care of people and planet), and it also introduces us to other really cool companies with similar values. So we thought it would be fun to introduce you to fellow B Corp Cuppow, located in nearby Somerville, Massachusetts. They make functional, practical, and reusable products to support your low-impact life. The best part: they’ve sent us some stuff to giveaway to one lucky reader – so read on, and be sure to enter our giant giveaway at the end!

It all started with a lid. A very basic adapter that can be inserted into the ring of your favorite canning jar, turning it into a travel mug. It’s almost poetic in its simplicity – something we Badgers really dig. Most of us have a canning jar or two (or a dozen!) laying around. And for less than $10 dollars all of those jars can be transformed into a glass drinking vessel. Brilliant!

From that initial offering they’ve expanded their catalog to include travel mugs with coozies, cold brew coffee kits, canning jar lunchbox adapters (no more soggy granola – yes!), infuser caps, and even a pair of really stylish socks! They also have gift sets that give back to their favorite charities. It’s easy to see why they decided to certify as a B Corporation in 2014 – everything they do aims to reduce waste while giving back to their local community.

For a company that was founded a mere 4 years ago, they’re cranking out the goodness. I had a chance to exchange a few emails with their marketing guy, Greg, about their meteoric rise, Cuppow company philosophy, and plans for the future.

Badger Jentri: Seems like you’ve had pretty quick growth – how do you plan to maintain your core values as you get bigger?

Cuppow Greg: “The original plan was to make a few hundred lids, try selling them, and use as many local and domestic supply chain components as possible. We never expected it to take off like it has – so every day is spent playing the game of scaling up as much as possible, while staying true to those initial goals to make something differently that supports our community and encourages a healthy lifestyle that’s good for people and the planet.”

BJ: Do you plan to cap your output at any point?

CG: “We don’t want to cap things – because the more we do, the more we can give back. The more lids and adaptors in color we sell – the more that gets donated directly to our charity partners. Our core values and mission – to produce products that help us live a low impact life – will continue to guide us, we want to make more things that helps us use less things. It’s that simple!”

BJ: You operate out of a co-working space with other businesses – what’s a day-in-the-life like at Cuppow?

CG: “Our co-working space is the best! You’d be tough pressed to not find something amazing going on here at every minute of every day. We’re a tightly knit community of 15 small businesses. From web design to green roof construction and so much more. We don’t always all work on the same stuff – but when we do, magic happens! We also all love to ride bikes together, run, travel, hike, etc.”

BJ: What advice would you offer folks who are interested in starting a sustainable company?

CG: “Stick to your guns! There are plenty of people who think it’s silly to make things in the USA, to use recycled materials, and to support charities in the process. But the ones who are doing all of those things are changing the world and moving money and influence to a new kind of future.”

BJ: What’s next for Team Cuppow?

CG: “We’re really excited to get our new complete Glass Travel Mugs in the hands of as many people as possible. It’s our solution to the myriad disposable cups choking our planet. People don’t often think about cups the way they do other packaging or even plastic bags – but we hope to change that. We’re also excited to expand Cup Club – our cafe loyalty program that rewards reuse and encourages customers to bring their own cups to the coffee shop.”

Check out Cuppow’s B Corp scorecard here: http://www.bcorporation.net/community/cuppow

And enter to win this awesome Cuppow/Badger prize below, valued at $109! This could be our biggest giveaway ever! (Contest open to residents of the US only, 18+.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway