Every purchase we make is a choice about the kind of world we want to live in
The challenges we currently face in the United States can feel overwhelming, but a new path is emerging.
There are enterprises across the country that exist to solve social and environmental challenges and are choosing to prioritize people and the planet over private profit. Instead of depending on scarce and restricted donor funding, they offer products and services that generate revenue. Instead of extracting resources to be accumulated by a few, they reinvest to benefit us all.
When we choose to purchase from and support these enterprises, we directly contribute to social and environmental solutions. Together, we’re building strong local economies that put people and the planet first.
Selling
Are you part of an enterprise that puts people and the planet first? Do you have products or services to offer in the United States?
Buying
Do you want to use collective purchasing power to solve social and environmental problems and build an economy that puts people and planet first?
In the US, enterprises that put people and planet first are part of many networks and communities and operate under different names: social enterprises, cooperatives, fair trade enterprises, nonprofit businesses, steward-owned companies, post-growth enterprises, regenerative businesses, benefit corporations, green businesses, independent businesses, and more.
We make it easier to find and support enterprises that put people and planet first by focusing on 5 standards.
Purpose
Exists to solve a social or environmental problem
Operations
Prioritizes purpose, people, and planet over profit in operational decisions
Revenue
Has a self-sustaining revenue model
Use of Surplus
Reinvests the majority of any surplus towards its purpose
Structure
Chooses legal structures & financing that protect and lock-in purpose long term
Purchasing with Purpose brings together partner networks, enterprises, buyers, and other supporters that are helping create the next economy. By working together, we are able to increase the visibility of the broader movement and open opportunities that no single network or organization could open on its own. We engage enterprises, buyers, and supporters across the country, share information and resources, and develop local place-based purchasing initiatives.
Partners include member organizations, certifiers, and other service providers that work with multiple enterprises in the United States that meet the five standards and sign the People and Planet First collaboration agreement.
We come together around five shared standards to keep verification costs low, but partners often have additional criteria for their communities and networks. They may require democratic governance, community ownership, fair trade supply chains, impact measurement, or specific regenerative practices. This diversity is recognized and celebrated.