B Corporation (certification) explained

In business, a B Corporation (also B Corp) is a for-profit corporation certified by B Lab for its social impact. B Corp certification is conferred by B Lab, a global non-profit organization. To be granted and to maintain certification, companies must receive a minimum score of 80 from an assessment of its social and environmental performance, integrate B Corp commitments to stakeholders into company governing documents, and pay an annual fee based on annual sales.[1] Companies must re-certify every three years to retain B Corporation status.

, there are 8,254 certified B Corporations across 162 industries in 96 countries.[2]

Purpose

B Lab certification is a third-party standard requiring companies to meet social sustainability and environmental performance standards, meet accountability standards, and be transparent to the public according to the score they receive on the assessment. B Lab certification applies to the whole company across all product lines and issue areas.

An issue in deciding to be a certified B Corporation would be the administrative and legal costs a corporation will face in changing their business model in accordance to B Lab's regulations.

As a matter of law, in Massachusetts or states that recognize B Corporation certification, it doesn't bring any legal significance to its shareholders, stakeholders or to its employees. However, the certification brings a multitude of branding tools to the corporation.[3]

B Corp certification will bring no legal liabilities to a C Corporation or any for-profit business structures apart from its business model structure which should adhere to the B Labs. To add on, many C corporations usually adapt the B Corporation certificate to gain goodwill.[4]

Similar to other business associations, certified B Corporations and their employees have access to a number of discounts from outside entities and fellow members.[5]

B Lab certification has no legal status[4] and is lacking in mandatory due diligence mechanisms.[6] B Lab has been criticized for framing private sector led multi-stakeholder governance as a substitute for public sector regulation.[7]

In order to obtain and maintain a B Corporation certification, B Lab charges annual administrative and legal fees depending on the revenue generated by the respective companies which could result in a perverse incentive.[8] [9]

B Lab develops private standards which are non-consensus, and does not reference or adhere to international standards which are voluntary consensus-based. With potential for confusion and fragmentation in the marketplace for social responsibility.[10] B Corporation has also been criticized for not being the "force for radical change" required to tackle the world's pressing problems.[11]

B Lab certification is not accredited. The European Commission proposed directive will require mandatory accreditation of verifiers.[12]

Private sector Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs)[13] may adopt weak or narrow standards that better serve corporate interests than rights holder interests.[14]

Distinction from benefit corporation

In the United States, a benefit corporation is a legal status conferred by state law in the US. Legislation for the passage of benefit corporation legal status has been passed in 35 states, including Delaware.[15]

B Lab certification is privately issued by a non-profit organization run by people principally from the business community. It has no legislative framework, and is not needed to obtain benefit corporation status.[16]

Certification process

The company needs to adhere their corporate legal structure to B-Lab regulation in order to qualify for the certification process.

Online assessment

To obtain a B Corporation certification, a company first completes an online assessment. Companies that earn a minimum score of 80 out of 200 points undergo an assessment review process, essentially a conference call verifying the claims made in their assessment. Companies are required to provide supporting documentation before they are certified.

The assessment covers the company's entire operation and measures the positive impact of the company in areas of governance, workers, community, the environment, as well as the product or service the company provides.[17] Socially and environmentally-focused business model points ultimately are accrued in their relevant impact area (governance, workers, community or environment).[18] Depending on a company's industry, geographic location, and number of employees, the online assessment adjusts the weightings of the question categories to increase its relevancy. For instance, companies with more employees will have a heavier weighting in the workers category, and companies in manufacturing will have a heavier weighting in the environment category.

To maintain credibility, the B Corporation certification standard operates under principles that are independent, comprehensive, comparable, dynamic, and transparent.[19] B Lab has an established standards advisory council that can independently make decisions with or without the support of B Lab. As of May 2014, 28 of 30 members were listed by their business affiliation.[20] The council recommends improvements to the B Corp assessment on a biennial basis. There is a 30-day public consultation period before releasing a new version of the B Corporation assessment.[18]

Currently the B Corp Impact Assessment is its sixth version which released in January 2019.[21]

Requirements

Certification also requires companies to integrate their stakeholder commitments into the company governing documents. In the United States, the avenue for corporations making the legal amendment to certify will depend on the state in which they are incorporated. Some states, known as "constituency" states, will allow for this change in the articles of incorporation, but other states, known as "non-constituency states", will not; and many states now have the option of adopting the benefit corporation legal structure, which also meets B Lab's requirements for B Corp certification.[22] Beyond the corporate model, other for-profit business entities make an amendment of the company by-laws or governing documents. These include:

However, B Lab certification allows the company bylaws to remain secret.

The fact that B Corp standards are not legally enforceable, and that none of a companies' governing bodies and leadership are liable for damages if a company fails to meet them has also been flagged as a problem.[26]

Verification and transparency requirements

On completing the assessment, a company is required to meet certain transparency requirements and background checks to become a certified B Corp. These requirements are: an in-depth review of public record of the companies, employees, products and other relative topics and randomised site visits.[27] Companies are required to re-certify every 3 years.

Notable B Corporations

Notable B Corporations include:

In 2021, BrewDog, a Fully Certified B Corp, was accused by former staff as having a "rotten culture".[40] BrewDog's B Corp status was subsequently rescinded.[41] In 2024, B Corp-certified bottled water brand Aqua topped the audit of Indonesia’s biggest plastic polluters.[42]

In 2022, 30 Certified B Corps joined together with certification watchdog Fair World Project to petition against Nespresso's Certification as a B Corp,[43] considering only 28% of their aluminum capsules are recycled.[44] B Lab’s decision to certify corporations with single use products, effectively putting these companies into the category of good corporate citizens, has resulted in accusations of greenwashing.[45] [46] [47] B-Corp is described as “capitalism through certification," with calls for more fundamental reforms that prioritize shared prosperity, democracy in the workplace, and sustainability.[48]

In July 2024, four Havas agencies lost their B Corp status over work for Shell plc.[49]

International adoption

In February 2022, there were over 4,673 certified B Corporations across 155 industries in 78 countries, including Canada (78 companies), Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. The most active community outside of the United States is Sistema B.[50] Since 2012, Sistema B has been the adaptation of the B Corps movement in Latin America, including in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Colombia.[51] This non-profit adapts proprietary certifications and evaluation metrics and modifies both to the context of each country. B Lab also assists Sistema B in incorporating a benefit corporation distinction into local legal systems.[52]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Certification Certified B Corporation. 2020-08-31. bcorporation.net.
  2. Web site: B Lab Global Site . 29 August 2023 . B Lab.
  3. Web site: Benefit Corporations Have Arrived in Massachusetts. bostonbar.org. 2020-04-13.
  4. Web site: Benefit Corporations & Certified B Corps. Benefit Corporation. 2020-04-13. 2020-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20200511172514/https://benefitcorp.net/businesses/benefit-corporations-and-certified-b-corps. dead.
  5. Web site: Save Money and Access Services . . September 11, 2013.
  6. Woods . Cindy S . The Implications of the B Corp Movement in the Business and Human Rights Context . Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law . 2016 . 6 . 1 .
  7. Web site: B Corp certification won't guarantee companies really care for people, planet and profit . 2021-09-05. The Conversation. 7 October 2019 .
  8. Web site: Making a Difference (and a Profit): Advantages and Disadvantages of Forming or Converting into a "B" Entity. Ginsburg. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner-Aaron B. www.lexology.com.. 8 March 2018 . 2020-04-11.
  9. Book: Bagley, Constance E.. The entrepreneur's guide to law and strategy. Dauchy, Craig E., 1949-. 21 February 2017. 978-1-285-42849-9. Fifth. Boston, MA. Cengage Learning. 953710378.
  10. Book: International standards and private standards . 2010 . International Organization for Standardization . 978-92-67-10518-5 .
  11. News: Purpose over profit: are B-Corps the future of sustainable business? . 2021-09-09. Reuters.
  12. Web site: Proposal for a Directive on Green Claims . environment.ec.europa.eu/ . European Commission.
  13. Web site: About Our Standards . bcorporation.net . B Corporation.
  14. Book: Not Fit-for-Purpose The Grand Experiment of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in Corporate Accountability, Human Rights and Global Governance . July 2020 . MSI Integrity . San Francisco: Institute for Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Integrity .
  15. Web site: Schwartz . Ariel . Delaware Just Made It A Whole Lot Easier For Socially Responsible Companies To Exist . . July 23, 2013 . September 11, 2013.
  16. Web site: What Are B Corps . . 16 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152828/https://www.bcorporation.net/what-are-b-corps/legislation . 17 May 2014 .
  17. Book: ((Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability)) . B Corporations, Benefit Corporations and Social Purpose Corporations: Launching a New Era of Impact-Driven Companies . NBIS . October 2012 . 2 . 2013-08-26 . 2015-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223215810/http://nbis.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ImpactDrivenCompanies_NBIS_Whitepaper_Oct2012.pdf . dead .
  18. Web site: GIIRS Governance . . September 11, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930060623/http://www.giirs.org/about-giirs/how-giirs-works/185 . September 30, 2012 . dead .
  19. Web site: AB 361 Assembly Bill - BILL ANALYSIS . . January 8, 2014.
  20. Web site: Standards Advisory Council . . September 11, 2013.
  21. Web site: Corporate Social Responsibility Comes In Many Flavors, Some Not So Tasty . NonProfit Times Publishing Group .
  22. Web site: Corporation Legal Roadmap . . September 11, 2013.
  23. See Boatright (2006) and Johnstone and Lionais (2004).
  24. Web site: OLR Backgrounder: Social Enterprise and the Benefit Corporation . State of Connecticut, Office of Legislative Research .
  25. See Lencioni (July 2002).
  26. Web site: O'Regan . Michael . B Corp certification won't guarantee companies really care for people, planet and profit . 2022-06-15 . The Conversation . 7 October 2019 . en.
  27. Web site: Certification Requirements Certified B Corporation. bcorporation.eu. 2020-04-13.
  28. Web site: 2022-04-26. Nespresso achieves B Corp certification. 26 April 2024. B Corp. en.
  29. Web site: 2012-10-23. Ben & Jerry's Becomes B-Corp Certified, Adds Credibility To Impact Investing Movement. Van Brussel. Joe. 26 October 2023. Huffington Post. en.
  30. Web site: Louise. Prance-Miles. 2019-09-27. The Body Shop achieves B Corp certification. 2021-08-20. Global Cosmetics News. en-GB.
  31. Web site: 2021-02-02. Coursera Receives B Corp Certification. 2022-04-10. blog.coursera.org. en.
  32. Web site: Ethique has been named the most environmentally responsible company in New Zealand. 2021-08-20. MINDFOOD .
  33. Web site: Award-winning ice cream shop makes a new home in Cincinnati. 4 July 2023. LeBus. Mary. 26 October 2023. Fox19.
  34. Web site: B Corps Grow Up (SSIR). 2021-08-20. ssir.org. en-us.
  35. Web site: Gazette . Dennis Huspeni The . Meow Wolf Denver set to astonish: A 'trippy' wonderland of art, culture, food . 2022-04-05 . Colorado Springs Gazette . 16 September 2021 . en.
  36. Web site: New England Biolabs Achieves B Corporation Certification. neb.com. en-us.
  37. Web site: Mackey. Zoe. The B Corp Revolution: How Companies like Patagonia Are Driving Positive Social Change. 2021-08-20. ideas.bkconnection.com. en-us.
  38. Web site: Greenvest becomes a Certified B Corporation . 2021-08-20. Vermont Business Magazine.
  39. Web site: Weleda is now a B Corp. en.
  40. News: Former BrewDog staff accuse craft beer firm of culture of fear. 2021-09-05. The Guardian.
  41. News: Sweney . Mark . Davies . Rob . 2022-12-01 . BrewDog loses its ethical B Corp certificate . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-08-15 . 0261-3077.
  42. News: Hicks. Robin . 2024-02-20 . B Corp-certified bottled water brand Aqua tops audit of Indonesia's biggest plastic polluters . en-GB . Eco Business. 2024-02-27 . 2322-8326.
  43. News: The B Corp Standard is at Risk. 2022-07-05. fairworldproject.org.
  44. Web site: Nespresso: Known for Human Rights Violations, Now B Corp Certified . fairworldproject.org . 4 May 2022 . Fair World Project.
  45. News: B Corp gold standard may just encourage green-washing, critics claim . www.thetimes . The Times . Bullock . Caroline .
  46. David, Philippine . How is the B Corp Movement influencing the future of Capitalism? An analysis of the motivations and the factors impacting the B Corp certification and decertification . dial.uclouvain.be . Louvain School of Management . 38 . 2020.
  47. Web site: Bennett . Elizabeth . As greenwashing soars, some people are questioning B Corp certification . bbc.com . British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
  48. Web site: O'Regan . Michael . B Corp: The Certification that won't save the planet . stirtoaction.com . Stir to Action . 42 . 2023.
  49. Web site: Ormesher . Ellen . 2024-07-18 . Havas Agencies Lose B Corp Status Over Work For Shell . 2024-07-18 . DeSmog . en-US.
  50. The double bottom line: Profit and social benefit . Business Horizons . 10.1016/j.bushor.2013.10.001 . 57 . 11–20. 2014 . Wilburn . Kathleen . Wilburn . Ralph .
  51. Web site: Camacho . Manuel Antonio . In Just a Few Months, Sistema B (AKA: B Corp) Finds Fertile Ground for Social Enterprises in Latin America . August 15, 2012 . NextBillion.net . September 11, 2013.
  52. Web site: B Lab and Sistema B Partner to take B Corps Global. Ip. Melissa. September 26, 2012. Social Enterprise Buzz. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628141813/http://www.socialenterprisebuzz.com/2012/09/26/b-lab-and-sistema-b-partner-to-take-b-corps-global/. 28 June 2017. September 11, 2013.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "B Corporation (certification)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.