Next time your organization evaluates suppliers, ask: Could this purchase also help change lives? The answer may bring you to a business just aroun
Every product we buy and every service we contract represents a choice — not just about cost or convenience, but about values. According to a new Forbes piece, companies that tap into their purchasing power can accelerate social change in ways philanthropy alone cannot.
This week, we’re celebrating the companies in our portfolio that are People and Planet Verified. Could one of these companies be your next supplier?
Why Shop With People & Planet First Companies?
Purchasing with Purpose’s recently released Mapping the Movement report is tracking the enterprises across the country that have earned People and Planet First (PPF) verification status. These are community-rooted businesses that reinvest in people — especially those overcoming challenges such as homelessness, incarceration, or trafficking.
According to Purchasing with Purpose’s research, there are an estimated 1.1 million PPF enterprises in the country. And by bringing these businesses into your supply chain, companies create real jobs and drive lasting impact.
For workers, this impact is transformative. Working for a social enterprise helps ensure not just a paycheck, but stability, dignity, and a pathway to economic power. For communities, spending on social enterprises means that dollars can more easily recirculate locally.
For us at REDF, we’ve seen the results in our own portfolio. While not all ESEs have pursued PPF verification, there’s significant overlap between People and Planet First status and employment social enterprises. And we understand that supporting social enterprises creates a ripple effect of good. Not only do people who were sidelined from the economy gain skills, careers, and confidence — but customers can access reliable, high-quality services, and society as a whole benefits.
People & Planet First-Verified ESEs To Watch
Check out the list of employment social enterprises in the REDF community that are officially People & Planet First Verified! You can also head to GoodMarket to use their search tools to find other PPF-verified enterprises near you.
Explore our Network of People & Planet First Verified ESEs on GoodMarket
- Benevolence Farm (Graham, NC)
- Bright Endeavors (New Moms) (Chicago, IL)
- Cara Collective (Chicago, IL)
- Curbside Enterprises (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Curt’s Cafe (Evanston, IL)
- First Step Staffing (Atlanta, GA)
- Freedom A la Cart (Columbus, OH)
- Global Café (Memphis, TN)
- Greyston Bakery (Yonkers, NY)
- HHPLift (Chicago, IL)
- Light House Bistro (Annapolis, MD)
- Mile High WorkShop (Aurora, CO)
- New Avenues INK (Portland, OR)
- Piece by Piece (Los Angeles, CA)
- Planting Justice (Oakland, CA)
- Rebel Nell (Detroit, MI)
- Southwest Creations (Albuquerque, NM)
- Stone Soup PDX (Portland, OR)
- Sweet Beginnings (Chicago, IL)
- The Town Kitchen (Oakland, CA)
- The Key Room & Catering / Wagster Treats (Homeward Bound of Marin) (Novato, CA)
- The Monkey & The Elephant (Philadelphia, PA)
- Thistle Farms (Nashville, TN)
- Unshattered (Wappingers Falls, NY)
- Wildflyer Coffee (Minneapolis, MN)
- Women’s Bean Project (Denver, CO)
- REDF (yes, we’re PPF verified too!)
