C.F. Martin & Co. Becomes The Musical Instrument Industry's First Certified B Corporation

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Sep 04, 2018, 10:00 ET

NAZARETH, Pa., Sept. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- C.F. Martin & Co.^® (Martin Guitar) became the first company in the musical instruments industry to receive B Corp certification on September 1, 2018. This prestigious certification recognizes companies that use business as a force for good, meeting the highest standards of positive impact on society and the environment, focusing just as much on people and the planet as they do on profit.

"I am personally very proud of our B Corporation Certification," said Chris Martin, Chairman and CEO of C.F. Martin & Co. "Being the sixth generation of Martin to have the privilege of running my family business, I have always thought that corporate culture, used appropriately, can be a significant competitive advantage. Our partnership with B Lab and the community of Certified B Corporations will make us a better business in a very holistic way."

Started in 2006, there are over 2,500 B Corp certified companies worldwide, and that number continues to grow. Other well-known B Corps include Ben & Jerry's, Athleta, Patagonia, and Seventh Generation. But certification is not easy. Martin completed a rigorous process conducted by B Lab, the governing body of B Corp certification, which looked at over 170 different factors, examining Martin's customers and vendors, its record of inclusion, its involvement in the community, its corporate governance, and, of course, its environmental impact, just to name a few. Things like average employee tenure, amount of charitable giving, energy savings plans, recycling policies, employee volunteer service, and upward mobility are all assessed.

Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario emphasized, "The B Corp movement is one of the most important of our lifetime, built on the simple fact that business impacts and serves more than just shareholders—it has an equal responsibility to the community and to the planet."

Martin has espoused that responsibility for decades. One example of their commitment to the environment is the $8 million, state-of-the-art central hot/chilled water plant Martin installed at their Nazareth facility in November 2016. This addition has helped cut electricity use by more than 46% and natural gas use by 20% in less than 2 years.

To learn more about C.F. Martin & Company's commitment to the community and the planet, please visit www.martinguitar.com/about/environment.

About B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab's initiatives include B Corp Certification, administration of the B Impact Management programs and software, and advocacy for governance structures like the benefit corporation.

Society's most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.

About Martin Guitars and Strings

C.F. Martin & Co.® has been inspiring musicians worldwide for 185 years with their superior guitar and string products. Martin guitars and strings remain the choice for musicians around the world for their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Throughout the company's long history, Martin products can be seen and heard across all genres of music and in all segments of pop culture, from concert and theater stages to television and movies.

With an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices, Martin continually drives the acoustic guitar market forward, introducing innovative features that have become standards across the industry. These groundbreaking innovations include the introduction of X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar, and the "Dreadnought" size guitar.

Martin has also led innovations in strings, such as introducing the first high-tensile strength steel-string core wire, the first nickel acoustic strings (Martin Retro), and the proprietary Titanium Core strings.

Connect with Martin Guitars and Martin Strings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and YouTube, and via www.martinguitar.com.

SOURCE C.F. Martin & Co.