For those who aren’t aware of B Corp certification, in a nutshell, it is a holistic certification to verify that you are a responsible and sustainable business. It evaluates all elements of the business and shows how you consider People and the Planet, as well as Profit. B Corp certification doesn’t just look at a product or service, it’s much more than just an environmental accreditation; it assesses the overall positive impact of the whole company that stands behind it.
Any type or size of for-profit can apply for B Corp certification: from small sole traders, up to multi-nationals.
If you want to grow your business, but not at the expense of your people and the environment, I may be biased, but I truly believe B Corp certification is a fantastic way to transform business into a force for good, and to make real social and environmental change. Because there is no hiding. The B Impact Assessment really goes into every nook and cranny of your business.
The B Impact Assessment is a simple and accessible framework to see where your business stands in terms of looking after people and the planet. There are around 200 questions about how you:
– lead your business
– treat your workers
– interact with your customers and suppliers
– consider the environment
You get points for what you’re already doing well and it gives you ideas of where to improve. If your organisation is already doing stuff to deal with social and environmental issues, the framework helps you identify any gaps and areas of improvement. If you haven’t started this journey, it is a great place to begin.
More and more people want to work for a business that cares – people are realising that life is too short to work for a business that doesn’t take care of its employees or think about the negative impacts it has on the community and environment. One day I hope all businesses will be B Corps, but until then, the small few will attract and engage the best talent. Recruitment websites, like Escape the City for example, use B Corp as one of their standard filters when people are looking for purposeful jobs.
As with people’s career desires, people are also looking to buy more from businesses that care for their people and the environment. So, whether you are a Business to Business or a Business to Consumer company, B Corp will always demonstrate to your customers (whoever they are) that you are going beyond the basics to care for all your people and the planet.
As the B Impact Assessment is externally verified, when you achieve B Corp certification, it is an excellent way to show to customers, investors and other stakeholders that you are not greenwashing, but are in fact well on your journey to becoming a socially and environmentally responsible business.
Finally, it future-proofs your business. B Corp certification makes businesses think about the long-term health, productivity and environmental management of the business. So once legislation catches up with where the world needs to be in terms of looking after People and Planet, as a standard, your business will be ahead of the game.
I would love to hear from companies who are keen to join the B Corp revolution, but feel there are too many hurdles for their company to overcome, especially those with high environmental impact.
Every company has the potential to become B Corp. You just have to be willing to change, understand it’s a journey that can take time, and keep up momentum with your improvements. But it’s always an exciting journey to embark on, because it will make your business a force for good.
If you would like to get started on your B Corp journey and would like the support of a trained B Leader, please get in contact at camilla@betterbusinessbetterworld.org
Contact Details
Name
Camilla Barnes
Company Title
Director
Company
Better Business. Better World
Company Website
Contact Telephone
07780663864
Contact Email
camilla@betterbusinessbetterworld.org
