Climbing Business Journal Article – July 26, 2024

Steamboat, Colorado’s local climbing gym—Steamboat Climbing Collective, a woman-owned business led by Karla Lankford—made a splash in the industry last month when it announced it had received the B Corp certification, putting a climbing facility on the list of B Corp-certified businesses. (All images courtesy of Steamboat Climbing Collective)

“Steamboat Climbing Collective, located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was recently certified as a B Corporation. The designation—often referred to as B Corp—is overseen by B Lab, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit. “To become a Certified B Corporation,” a press release stated, “companies undergo a rigorous review of the impact of their operations and business model on their workers, customers, communities and environment, and must meet a minimum verified score on the B Impact Assessment.” (A company’s “pathway to [B Corp] certification” can be viewed here, and the B Impact Assessment process is detailed here.)

Other companies that are certified B Corp, particularly in the broad sphere of the outdoor industry, include Patagonia and Cotopaxi. The total number of global B Corp-certified businesses is more than 8,000. However, Steamboat Climbing Collective is currently the sole climbing gym in the world that’s B Corp-certified, according to the listings in B Lab’s directory, and may very well be the first ever to have received the certification.”

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