1500 UK companies obtain B Corp certification 

In a world the place the decision for sustainable practices and company duty is rising louder, the UK has seen a big milestone reached within the enterprise sector. 

As of September 2023, a complete of 1,500 UK companies have achieved B Corp certification, marking a profound shift in the direction of extra moral and environmentally aware operations.

The B Corp motion good points momentum

B Corp, quick for “Profit Company,” is a world initiative that encourages firms to redefine their function past revenue. It assesses companies based mostly on their social and environmental efficiency, transparency, and accountability. 

These certifications function a testomony to an organization’s dedication to making a constructive influence on the world whereas producing sustainable income.

One standout instance among the many newly licensed B Corps is Fallow, Discipline & Mason PR, a communications and podcast consultancy. They be a part of a choose group of simply 25 UK-based B Corp communications consultancies, signifying a break from the normal PR company mannequin that has confronted criticism for supporting shoppers concerned in irresponsible actions – notably actions throughout the fossil gasoline business.

For Fallow, Discipline & Mason, the journey to B Corp certification was no simple feat. Their software course of required over 70 hours of meticulous examination of each side of their three-and-a-half-year-old enterprise. This scrutiny ensured that the corporate positively impacted all its stakeholders, together with the crew, shoppers, the press, and suppliers. The crew’s dedication paid off, with FF&M scoring a powerful 86 factors throughout the rigorous verification course of, significantly excelling within the employment and group classes.

Aisling Connaughton, co-founder of Cyd Connects, a sustainability consultancy that guided FF&M by means of the B Corp certification course of, highlights a rising pattern amongst media shops and businesses. “Selling companies which can be ruining the planet has penalties and it’s time we begin being accountable for our actions.”

It isn’t simply PR businesses which can be embracing the B Corp ethos, both. Within the wider media sector, a number of distinguished firms have additionally achieved B Corp certification. Nation & City Home, a revered luxurious way of life journal, turned the world’s first B Corp shiny journal in August 2023. Moreover, enterprise title Raconteur and even nationwide newspapers like The Guardian have joined the B Corp ranks.

Lucy Cleland, founding editor of Nation & City Home, notes: “Given the large social and environmental points that threaten us on a micro and a macro degree, I actually suppose companies have a vital function to play. Getting our B Corp certification was a public approach of exhibiting our employees, our readers and our advertisers how critically we take our obligations in the direction of being an moral enterprise.”

Empowering small companies: a brand new alternative

Whereas the B Corp motion has gained important traction amongst bigger firms and media shops, it additionally holds nice significance for small companies. In actual fact, it may be argued that the ideas of B Corp certification are significantly useful for smaller enterprises. Listed below are a number of the reason why:

• Differentiation and aggressive benefit: small companies typically face intense competitors of their respective markets. Reaching B Corp certification units them aside by showcasing their dedication to sustainability and moral practices. This will appeal to a loyal buyer base that prioritises supporting accountable companies.
• Entry to a supportive community: B Corp certification gives entry to a world group of like-minded companies. Small companies can faucet into this community for steering, partnerships, and shared sources, creating invaluable alternatives for progress and collaboration.
• A logo of belief: belief is paramount for small companies, particularly when competing with bigger, well-established manufacturers. B Corp certification is a visual image of trustworthiness, assuring clients that the enterprise operates with integrity and social duty.
• Potential to draw enterprise capital and angel buyers: small companies looking for funding can profit from B Corp certification. Moral and sustainable companies typically appeal to influence buyers who usually are not solely curious about monetary returns but in addition constructive social and environmental outcomes.
• Aligning with values: Many small enterprise homeowners are deeply obsessed with their values and the influence their companies have on the world. B Corp certification aligns with these values, offering a framework to make sure that enterprise practices mirror the proprietor’s private convictions.

The gold customary in duty

B Corp certification is taken into account the gold customary for assessing an organization’s social and environmental influence. To attain this certification, companies should exhibit a real dedication to redirecting their operations in the direction of social and environmental good, fairly than merely making empty guarantees.

A survey from 2021 discovered that 70% of these acquainted with B Corps can be extra possible to purchase from a B Corp-certified enterprise. This rising belief underscores the significance of authenticity and motion within the pursuit of sustainable enterprise practices.

Conclusion: a brighter future for UK companies

The B Corp motion’s progress within the UK represents a big step in the direction of a extra sustainable and accountable future for companies. These certifications sign a basic shift in how firms view their function in society, inserting equal significance on revenue and planet. As companies more and more align with moral and environmental values, the B Corp motion is proving to be a robust driver of constructive change within the UK and past.