How to Get Your Company B Corp Certified: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s increasingly conscious business world, companies are seeking ways to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. One of the most prominent and respected certifications available for socially responsible businesses is the B Corp certification. In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of the B Corp certification process, why it’s important for your company, and how you can go about achieving it. Let’s dive in!

Why B Corp Certification?

B Corp certification is awarded to businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This certification, conferred by the non-profit B Lab, is recognised globally as a mark of distinction for businesses that put people and the planet at the centre of their operations.

Becoming a certified B Corp sets your company apart from competitors and signals to consumers, investors, and employees that your business is genuinely committed to making a positive impact on the world. In addition, the certification process itself can serve as a valuable learning experience for your company, helping you to identify areas for improvement and implementing best practices in corporate governance, employee engagement, and environmental stewardship.

The B Corp Certification Process

Assess Your Company

The first step in the B Corp certification process is to complete the B Impact Assessment (BIA). This comprehensive online tool evaluates your company\’s overall social and environmental impact by examining various aspects of your operations, such as governance, workers, community engagement, and environmental practices.

Before you start the BIA, gather relevant information and documentation on your company’s policies, practices, and performance. This will make it easier to provide accurate and comprehensive answers during the assessment. The BIA is designed to be rigorous and detailed, so be prepared to invest time and effort into completing it thoroughly.

Meet the Performance Requirement

To qualify for B Corp certification, your company must achieve a minimum verified score of 80 out of 200 possible points on the BIA. This threshold ensures that only companies with a significant positive impact are awarded the certification. If your score falls short, don’t be discouraged – the BIA also provides customised recommendations for improvement, helping you identify areas where you can make changes to boost your score and overall impact.

Meet the Legal Requirement

Once your company has met the performance requirement, the next step is to meet the legal requirement for certification. This involves amending your company’s governing documents to incorporate a commitment to considering the interests of all stakeholders – not just shareholders – in your decision-making processes. This may require working with legal counsel to ensure that the changes comply with the relevant laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

Verification and Review

After completing the BIA and meeting the legal requirement, your company’s assessment will be reviewed by B Lab’s Standards Analysts. They will verify the information provided, request additional documentation if needed, and conduct a review call to discuss your assessment in more detail. This stage of the process is an opportunity to clarify any ambiguities, address any concerns, and demonstrate your company’s commitment to the principles underlying the B Corp certification.

Certification and Ongoing Commitment

Once your company has successfully completed the verification and review process, you will be invited to sign the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence and pay the certification fee, which is determined by your company’s annual revenue. Upon payment, your company will officially become a certified B Corp and join a growing global community of like-minded businesses.

annual updates to their BIA and ongoing transparency through the submission of a public and engaging B Impact Report. This ongoing commitment helps to ensure that B Corps maintain the high standards associated with the certification.

Tips for a Successful B Corp Certification Journey

Build a Team: Assemble a cross-functional team within your company to manage the certification process. This team should include representatives from various departments, such as human resources, operations, finance, and marketing. Engaging a diverse group of stakeholders will help ensure that you have the necessary expertise and perspectives to navigate the process effectively.
Be Thorough: Take your time completing the B Impact Assessment, and be as thorough and accurate as possible in your responses. The assessment is a valuable learning tool that can help you identify areas for improvement and develop strategies for enhancing your company’s social and environmental performance.
Seek Expert Advice: If you’re unsure about specific aspects of the certification process, don’t hesitate to consult with experts. B Lab offers a range of resources and support services, including webinars, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. Additionally, there are numerous consultants who specialise in B Corp certification and can provide personalised guidance and advice.
Engage Your Stakeholders: Throughout the certification process, communicate openly and regularly with your employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders about your company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This will help build internal and external support for the certification and demonstrate your company’s dedication to the values and principles underlying the B Corp movement.
Learn from Other B Corps: The global B Corp community is a valuable source of inspiration, knowledge, and best practices. Connect with other B Corps through networking events, online forums, and social media to learn from their experiences and gain insights that can help your company on its certification journey.

Conclusions

Becoming a B Corp certified company is a challenging but rewarding process that signals your commitment to social and environmental responsibility. By meeting the rigorous standards set forth by B Lab, your company can stand out in the marketplace, attract like-minded customers and investors, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, building a dedicated team, and leveraging the resources and support available from ESG PRO, your company can embark on a successful B Corp certification journey. Ultimately, this process will not only strengthen your company’s reputation and performance but also contribute to the growing global movement of businesses driving positive change.

References

B Lab: B Corp Certification Source: https://bcorporation.net/certification
B Impact Assessment (BIA) Source: https://bimpactassessment.net/
Harvard Business Review: The B Corp Movement Is Growing and Gaining Momentum Source: https://hbr.org/2019/07/the-b-corp-movement-is-growing-and-gaining-momentum
Forbes: Why B Corps Matter And How They Will Change The World Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2019/06/04/why-b-corps-matter-and-how-they-will-change-the-world/
B the Change: Stories from the B Corp Community Source: https://bthechange.com/
B Corp Handbook Source: https://bcorphandbook.com/

Humperdinck Jackman

Leads the daily operations at ESG PRO, he specialises in matters of corporate governance. Humperdinck hails from Bermuda, has twice sailed the Atlantic solo, and recently devoted a few years to fighting poachers in Kenya. Writing about business matters, he’s a published author, and his articles have been published in The Times, The Telegraph and various business journals.

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