B Corp

The B Corp certification is a comprehensive evaluation of a company's social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It is relevant across various sectors and industries. The certification uses the B Impact Assessment to examine a company's impact on its workers, community, environment, and customers. The process also scrutinizes governance structure and accountability. The certification extends to the entire business model, requiring documentation about operations, structure, and work processes.

Key Features

• Minimum score of 80 out of 200 points required for certification. The average score for ordinary businesses is 50.9.
• Legal requirements may involve structural changes to the company's governing documents.
• Separate assessments for potentially negative and positive impacts.

Trustworthiness

The certification process is rigorous, involving documentation sharing and possibly taking more than a year for approval, depending on the complexity of the business. While the process is thorough and credible, it is also time-consuming and resource-intensive, which may be a barrier for some companies.

Duration and Renewal

Certified companies need to prepare for recertification every three years. The standards for certification are continually evolving, requiring companies to stay updated and possibly make improvements for recertification.

Impact and Significance

Achieving B Corp certification offers companies a competitive edge by validating their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It also provides a framework for ongoing improvement, as the certification generates a report identifying key areas for enhancement. However, the resource-intensive nature of the certification process may make it less accessible for smaller or less-resourced companies.