B-Corp

We have written a blog piece to explain this in more detail (see here), but in summary it is a highly respected certification process for businesses covering a wide range of sustainability issues from materials and supply chains to employee welfare.

The B seems to mean many things. It is said to refer to Benefit, possibly coming from the American company structure called a Benefit Corporation which has a more social purpose.

Others say it means Better, others again say it could refer to the Gandhi quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world". We've also seen it suggested that it refers to the lack of a Plan B for the world.

So in short, it means what you want it to mean.

In simple terms, to push for a better world by getting businesses to improve. In their own words, “We won't stop until all business is a force for good.”

As with anything, certification can only go so far and if you want to really know more then you might need to do your own research on a business you deal with. That said, it could be a difficult if not impossible process to achieve, and B-Corp are as good a certification process as you will find.

It is arguably the best measure we have out there to determine the wider sustainability of a company, beyond just ‘what is this product made from?’