What Is a
B Corporation?

Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

B Corps measure their
impact across five areas

Stakeholder 5
1.
Governance

How a business contributes to the economic and social well-being of the communities in which they operate. Best practices explore initiatives and policies directed at community impact, including embracing supplier relations, social engagement, charitable giving, and strong, diverse communities.

Environment
2.
Workers

Being a B Corp means valuing your workers, customers, communities, and the environment as much as your profits (or even more)

Stakeholder 3
3.
Environment

How a company works towards a more sustainable and regenerative planet by reducing their footprint and putting their impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity first in their business practices. This section explores the impact of a company’s facilities, materials, emissions, and resource and energy use, as well as transportation/distribution channels and the environmental impact of their supply chain

Stakeholder 2
4.
Community

How a company serves their customers, offering products or services that support the greater good. Best practices explore whether a company adds value to customers’ lives by providing critical services like education, healthcare, and finance management, as well as engaging in ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels.

Stakeholder 1
5.
Customers

A company’s overall mission, ethics, accountability, transparency and how they build their vision and values into their bylaws. Best practices are focused on how they engage employees, board members, and the community to achieve their mission, as well as employee access to financial information, customers’ opportunities to provide feedback, and the diversity of their governing bodies.

A rigorous, holistic certification

B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards
of verified performance, accountability, and transparency.

1. Holistic evaluation

B Corp Certification is holistic, not exclusively focused on a single social or environmental issue.

2. Risk assessment

At the beginning of the B Corp Certification process, companies must undergo an assessment of risk factors based on their industry and other practices.

3. Reviews & Site Visits

Taking company size and profile into account, verification may also involve a review of potential public complaints and possible site visits

4. Different pathways to Certification

The certification process varies and increases in rigour depending on a company’s size and complexity.

5. Documentation Provided

B Impact Assessment answers are validated through documentation of your company’s business model and information about your operations, structure, and various work processes

6. Recertification every three years

B Corps are required to undergo the verification process every three years in order to recertify, ensuring standards continue to be met and promoting long-term resiliency.

Why does B Corp
Certification exist?

Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: a positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.

What is the
certification based on?

High-quality social and environmental business standards demand continuous improvement in order to meet principles of inclusion, independence, and credibility.

Developed according to standards best practices and informed by stakeholder input and research, our standards have continuously evolved since our founding in 2006.

The B Impact Assessment and our standards are independently governed by our Standards Advisory Council and Board of Directors with input from external stakeholders and various working and advisory groups.

B Corp Declaration
of Interdependence

We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation – which is purpose-driven and creates benefits for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. 

As Certified B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:

  • That we must be the change we seek in the world.
  • That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
  • That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.
  • To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.

Testimonials

Ecolution Consulting

We firmly align with B Corp values and believe it is the way to lead business and the world; offering the practical measurement tools to inspire making further impact in and through our business

Andre Harms
Founder, Ecolution Consulting
Solibrium Limited

We are always inspired to create impact whenever we learn what other B corps are doing

Gilfine Nyangasi
Asst. Director, Solibrium, Ltd
BioCarbon Partners

Interacting with B Lab has been great as they have really made all of the BCorps feel like a strong community and pillars of support. The interaction and meet and greet was a great experience

Gina Wooley
REDD+ Technical Officer, BioCarbon Partners)
SOKO

Impact has always been one of the core values for business. The BIA is something we can all use as an accountability tool not to lose sight of our core mission values

Joshua Mwaniki
Former Managing Director, SOKO
Lubanzi Wines

We've received a number of emails from talented individuals who are interested in working for us because of our B Corp status. It's very inspiring when someone feels so drawn to a business they think is doing things the right way. They are willing to offer up their own time and services to help that company grow & pursue sustainable goals. It's happened several times to us during our 1.5 years as a B Corp and is humbling and inspiring each time

Charles Brain
Co-founder, Lubanzi Wines
Enda

In terms of being a social enterprise, that means in everything we do we’re focused on having the most social beneficial impact possible. It’s why we make shoes in Kenya, give back to communities in Kenya, work to minimize our environmental impact, and are trying to change the way the world sees Kenya

Navalayo Osembo
Co-founder, Enda Sportswear

Want to work with us?
Let’s collaborate.

Our mission is to accelerate a shift in how business is done in Africa. To redefine business success as not just for profit but also for a purpose. To encourage businesses to work for a positive impact for all stakeholders: workers, customers, community and the environment