What Is a Good Business — and Who Gets to Define It?

It’s a question we ask ourselves a lot.

When we talk about a “good” business, we’re not just talking about profits, products, or popularity. We’re talking about purpose — how a business treats people, the planet, and its community. But what does that actually look like in practice? And who decides what counts as “good”?

We look to two trusted frameworks for answers: B Lab’s standards (the global nonprofit that certifies B Corporations) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Together, B Lab and the SDGs offer the most comprehensive roadmaps for doing business ethically and sustainably — outlining everything from how companies manage waste to how they treat employees, suppliers, and local communities. B Lab provides a practical checklist of measurable business behaviors, while the SDGs connect those actions to a global vision.

Both frameworks remind us that being a “good business” isn’t about perfection — it’s about accountability, transparency, and progress.

Here in Idaho, we see examples of this every day:

• Coffee shops sourcing local milk and composting their grounds.

• Construction firms diverting job site waste and prioritizing worker safety.

• Tech startups implementing 4-day workweeks or more family friendly policies.

These initiatives are powerful, measurable steps toward a more resilient local economy.

As we continue to build the Idaho for Good, we’ll be using these frameworks to recognize businesses that are walking the talk and turning values into daily practice and setting new standards for what it means to succeed.

So we invite you to explore, question, and contribute to this conversation. What does good business look like to you? And how can we make sure the companies doing the most good are also the ones thriving?