We are hearing more and more about “B Corp” certification for companies and/or seeing the Certified B Corporation®️ mark on company websites or official graphics and packaging.
But what does it mean to have B Corp certification and therefore be a Benefit Corporation in practice? Should it be a parameter that buyers also consider when making informed choices?
How is this certification obtained and what does it guarantee? Does corporate welfare affect the certification process?
In this article, we will answer the most common questions we are asked on this subject, hoping to clear up any doubts about the “Certified B Corporation®️” label.
What does “B Corp” mean?
“B Corp” stands for Benefit Corporation.
Benefit Corporations, i.e., B Corp-certified companies, are required to comply with specific reporting and transparency standards that are higher than the norm and to demonstrate how they are contributing to the common good.
This type of corporate structure is designed to encourage companies to consider the social and environmental impact of their activities, in addition to financial profitability.
Che cosa si intende per Società Benefit?
The term “Benefit Corporation” refers to a specific type of corporate structure which, regardless of its size, is committed to pursuing social and environmental objectives in addition to purely financial ones.
Benefit Corporations are therefore legally bound to consider the social and environmental impacts of their business decisions and are subject to a higher degree of social responsibility and transparency.
Registration as a Benefit Corporation may vary depending on jurisdiction, but generally requires the company to explicitly state its non-financial objectives and measure its impact in an ethical manner.
In many cases, Benefit Corporations are associated with social enterprise and sustainability movements, reflecting a growing interest in the business world to integrate social and environmental concerns into business decisions.
But what are the parameters for defining a company as a “Benefit Corporation”? Let's take a look.
What is the B Impact Assessment and how does it work?
The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is the tool used by B Lab* to measure corporate performance in terms of social and environmental impact.
This assessment tool provides an in-depth analysis of corporate practices in various areas, enabling companies to evaluate and improve not only their financial impact, but also their social and environmental impact.
The assessment process involves a series of questions divided into categories, such as governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.
These questions are specifically designed to assess corporate behavior and policies in each area, and the answers are then analyzed by assigning an overall score or B Corp score**.
The goal of the B Impact Assessment is to provide companies with an objective tool to assess and improve their sustainable practices and to demonstrate their commitment to a positive impact on society and the environment.
Obtaining a high score in the BIA is therefore a requirement for obtaining Benefit Corporation certification, but many companies still use the tool even without pursuing certification, in order to obtain feedback on their sustainable practices and identify strengths and weaknesses.
*Who issues B Corp certification?
B Corp certification is issued by B Lab, a non-profit organization founded in 2006.
B Lab is the certification body for Benefit Corporations, which developed the B Impact Assessment (BIA) and issues official B Corp certification exclusively to companies that achieve a certain score in the B Impact Assessment and demonstrate their commitment to balancing profit with the pursuit of the common good.
What is the B Corp Score?
The B Corp Score is the score obtained by a company during the B Impact Assessment (BIA).
As we mentioned, the BIA consists of a series of questions, the answers to which are evaluated and weighted, assigning an overall score.
The B Corp Score can therefore range from 0 to 200, and in order to obtain B Corp certification, a minimum score of 80 is required.
A high score inevitably indicates that the company is adopting advanced and sustainable practices, demonstrating a significant commitment to corporate social responsibility and a positive impact on society and the environment.
How long does B Corp certification last?
B Corp certification is obviously valid for a limited period, and companies are required to undergo periodic re-evaluations to confirm that they continue to meet the requirements for certified B Corp status.
Currently, certification renewal is required every three years.
During this period, certified companies must maintain their commitments and continue to comply with the social and environmental responsibility standards established by B Lab.
At the end of the three years, companies must undergo a new assessment—again through the B Impact Assessment (BIA)—to confirm that they continue to meet the required standards.
The review also includes a verification process, and if the company successfully passes this stage, it can obtain reconfirmation of its B Corp certification.
It is important to note that B Corp certification requires ongoing commitment from companies to maintain sustainable and responsible practices.
The review process ensures that certified companies maintain the required standards over time.
In this way, B Corp certification is designed to be dynamic and adapt to evolving business practices and emerging standards in the field of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
But is certification free, or is there a fee every three years?
How much does B Corp certification cost?
La certificazione non è gratuita; le tariffe per ottenere la certificazione B Corp variano però in base a diversi fattori, tra cui le dimensioni e il fatturato dell'azienda.
I fattori che influenzano l’ammontare delle tariffe di certificazione B Corp includono:
- il fatturato
Le aziende sono suddivise in diverse fasce in base al loro fatturato annuale. L’aumento delle tariffe è direttamente proporzionale all’aumento del fatturato.
- Le dimensioni
Le piccole imprese possono beneficiare di tariffe agevolate, rispetto alle grandi aziende.
- Tipologia di organizzazione
Esistono tariffe differenziate per le imprese, le organizzazioni senza scopo di lucro o altre tipologie di organizzazioni.
In ogni caso, le aziende interessate a ottenere la certificazione B Corp possono trovare informazioni più dettagliate e sempre aggiornate sulla struttura delle tariffe sul sito web ufficiale di B Lab.
Inoltre, B Lab offre risorse e supporto per guidare le aziende attraverso il processo di certificazione, rispondendo a eventuali domande anche relativamente alle singole tariffe.
Certificazione B Corp e Welfare Aziendale
La certificazione B Corp e il Welfare Aziendale sono entrambe iniziative che promuovono la sostenibilità, la responsabilità sociale d'impresa e il benessere dei dipendenti. Tuttavia, sono ovviamente concetti distinti.
Risulta quindi inevitabile chiedersi…
Il Welfare può incidere in fase decisionale sull’assegnazione della certificazione B Corp a un’azienda?
Certification is not free; however, the fees for obtaining B Corp certification vary based on several factors, including the size and revenue of the company.
Factors that influence the amount of B Corp certification fees include:
Revenue
Companies are divided into different bands based on their annual revenue. The increase in fees is directly proportional to the increase in revenue.
Size
Small businesses can benefit from reduced fees compared to large companies.
Type of organization
There are different fees for businesses, non-profit organizations, and other types of organizations.
In any case, companies interested in obtaining B Corp certification can find more detailed and up-to-date information on the fee structure on the official B Lab website.
In addition, B Lab offers resources and support to guide companies through the certification process, answering any questions they may have, including those relating to individual fees.
So how do you become a B Corporation? A practical guide
To become a B Corporation (B Corp), a company must follow a specific set of steps.
Here is a general overview of the process:
First phase of preparation and assessment
The company must begin by completing the B Impact Assessment (the BIA can be completed online for free).
Achieving the required score (minimum 80/200)
Review and verification
After achieving a sufficient score, the company must undergo further review and verification by B Lab. This process includes validation of the responses provided in the BIA and may also involve interviews and requests for additional documentation.
Legal commitment
The company must issue a legal statement of commitment (Term Sheet), pledging to consider not only financial performance but also social and environmental impact in its business decisions.
Completion of certification
Once the review has also been passed, the company can obtain official B Corp certification. This certification is valid for a limited period of time, and companies must periodically undergo a new assessment to maintain their B Corp status.
Integration of business strategy
B Corp companies are encouraged to integrate corporate social responsibility into their daily operations, demonstrating a ongoing commitment to balancing profit with a positive impact on society and the environment.
Why become a B Corp?
Here are some of the reasons why companies are increasingly seeking B Corp certification:
Loyalty to their corporate, social, and environmental mission.
Greater appeal to both customers and talent.
Differentiation from the competition.
Access to sustainable resources and investments.
Long-term resilience.
Improved corporate reputation.
In short, deciding to become a B Corp is not only an ethical choice, but also a strategic one, capable of helping to integrate sustainability and social responsibility into the corporate identity, generating benefits for both the company and society as a whole.
What is the B Corp interdependence statement?
The “B Corp Declaration of Interdependence” is a symbolic but fundamental statement that emphasizes respect for the principles and ideals shared by companies aspiring to become B Corps.
The text of the declaration reflects the importance of considering the impact of business decisions not only on shareholders, but also on employees, the community, the environment, and society as a whole.
The B Corp Declaration of Interdependence therefore serves to communicate and emphasize a common philosophy among B Corp companies and to underscore their commitment to a business approach that balances financial needs with social and environmental ones.
This document, as we said, is symbolic and is often used to inspire a sense of community among all companies that share similar values of corporate social responsibility.
But how many Benefit Corporations are we talking about?
How many B Corps are there in the world today?
As of 2023, there are over 6,800 B Corps worldwide, including over 1,300 in the European Union.
How many B Corps are there in Italy?
Coming back to us, Italy is currently one of the three European countries most committed to sustainability, with a total of 231 Italian B Corp companies, preceded only by France (304 B Corps) and followed by the Netherlands (212 B Corps).
