Your Guide to B Corp Certification

B Corp Certification  

A B Corp certificate demonstrates that your company uses business as a force for good. The certificate from B Lab will not only help you stand out from the crowd; it will help you set goals to create even more positive social and environmental impact.  
Our officially trained B Leader, Elise, is specialised in guiding companies through the B Corp certification and recertification process using the B Impact Assessment. We ensure your business not only achieves certification but also thrives on sustainable and ethical practices.  
Contact Elise at elise@2impact.nl to learn more about how we can help your company achieve and/or maintain your B Corp status.  

What is B Corp? 

B Corp stands for Benefit Corporation. It is a certification for profit companies that not only do business for profits, but also to do good. The certification is done by B Lab. B Corp certified businesses are known as B Corps or B Corporations.  
B Corp certified companies have successfully undergone an extensive certification process in which their practices and outputs are evaluate across five categories: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.  

Benefits of becoming a B Corp 

Getting the B Corp label demonstrates a company's commitment to sustainability and places it amongst well-known B Corps such as Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, and Tony's Chocolonely. 
The B Corp label can benefit your business in multiple ways, including: 

• Improve Impact: Elevate your social and environmental performance. 
• Stand Out: Differentiate your company from competitors. 
• Mission Protection: Embed and protect your impact mission. 
• Talent Magnet: Attract and engage dedicated talent. 
• Network Power: Join a network of like-minded companies. 
• Reporting Ready: Be prepared for CSRD reporting.  

Who can become B Corp? 

Any for-profit company with at least 1 year of operations can pursue a B Corp Certificate.  The B Impact Assessment differs depending on the sector, geographical location, and size. In addition, a company must be prepared to legally record that it has stakeholder governance.  
To get the B Corp certificate the company must achieve a B Impact Assessment score of 80 points or above and pass a risk review.  
A company in a certain risk sector might not be eligible for certification, in some cases the eligibility depends on whether they meet certain requirements.  

How to get a B Corp certification? 

The certification process involves the following steps: 

1. Making legal adjustments: Organisations pursuing the B Corp Certificate need to have, or adopt, governing documents that include a commitment to a “triple bottom line” approach to business. 
   This generally means that you need to have an objects clause which states that your company exists to promote the success of the business for the benefit of its shareholders but also to have a material positive impact on society and the environment. 
   Governing documents will also need to state that the board members of the company have to consider a range of stakeholder interests, including shareholders, employees, suppliers, society, and the environment, when making decisions. It also needs to state that shareholder value is not the main consideration but one factor amongst the many stakeholder interests which board members need to take into account when running the business. 
2. Completing the B Impact Assessment :The second step is completing the B Impact Assessment. This is a free and confidential impact management tool which measures the positive impact of the company in relation to governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.  
   The assessment consists of around 200 questions and is tailored to the company’s size, sector, and location. Once you have earned a minimum score of 80 out of 200 points in the assessment, you can submit your application. 
3. Evaluation and verification of the B impact assessment : After the B Impact Assessment is submitted, B Lab will evaluate to determine if the company can become a B Corp and if they are following the right tracks. Then your application will be verified and you will have a review call with an analyst. Companies are asked to provide all documentation to back up the answers given in the assessment. 
4. Certification: Once your assessment has been verified and you meet the 80-point threshold, you will have to sign the B Corp Agreement, the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence, and pay the annual certification fees. Once that is done, it is official: you are a B Corp. Your B Impact Report and score will be published in the B Corp directory. 
5. Recertification: All B Corps must recertify every three years. The recertification process takes into account your company's age and size. Moreover, to ensure continuous improvement and commitment to a better world, B Corp standards continue to evolve as well. 

Need help becoming a B Corp?  

The B Corp certification process can be quite challenging. 2impact can help you get through the certification and recertification process. Our officially trained B Leader Elise can help you with: 

• Team training and engagement: We empower your team with the knowledge and tools necessary for the B Corp journey. 
• Strategy development: Our quick scans identify your immediate and long-term goals, setting a clear path for improvement. 
• Guided support: We navigate you through the certification process, maintaining motivation and focus. 
• Continuous improvement: Post-certification, we help in maintaining and enhancing your impact.  

Contact Elise at elise@2impact.nl to learn more about how we can help your company achieve and maintain your B Corp status.  

Frequently asked questions about B Corp 

What are examples of certified B corporations? 
Amongst the B Corp businesses, you will find Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Tony's Chocolonely, Triodos Bank, Bol.com and Rituals. Have a look at B Lab's Global Directory to discover Certified B Corporations around the world.  
What does it cost to become a B Corp? 
To become B Corp certified, you pay: 

1. A verification fee 
2. An annual certification fee 

Prices are based on your annual sales and can be found here. 

How long does it take to become a B Corp? 
For small and medium size business the process can take 1 to 1.5 year depending on the complexity of your organisation. For larger organisations, the process can take 2 to 2.5 years.  

Why is B Corp certification evolving?  
B Lab continues to update and improve its standards to better address global challenges. Updates focus on enhancing the impact, clarity, and attainability of the standards, addressing global challenges like climate change, social justice, and economic inequity. The evolving standards aim to be more inclusive and adaptable to different company sizes and contexts.  There is also a focus on integrating impact business models more effectively into the standards. This evolution reflects a comprehensive approach to meet the current and future needs of sustainable business practices.  

Please reach out to elise@2impact.nl if you want to understand what this evolution will mean for your B Corp status. 

 

Link to our service "B Corp Certification".