“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” — Robert Swan
With 16i currently working towards B-Corp status, this blog looks at what it means to be B-Corp certified, how the accreditation is achieved and the wider impact this has on a companies’ client and business network.
What is a certified B-Corporation?
A prestigious accolade, a certified B Corporation is a company which has met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, primarily in the five stakeholder ‘impact areas’ of governance, workers, community, environment and customers.
Awarded by B-Lab (a non-profit global network) the certification is marked out of 250+ under the B Impact Assessment (BIA), with B-Corps achieving a B Impact score of 80 or above. It has currently been awarded to over 4000 corporations across 77 countries including Gousto, Emma Bridgewater, Innocent Smoothies and Teapigs; and helps to recognise a strong commitment to socio-environmental best practice.
How is B-Corp status achieved?
In order to become B-Corp certified, companies must demonstrate positive, ethical and environmental changes throughout the business, with example strategies outlined below:
- Generating or buying electricity from renewable energy sources
- Implementing new, innovative initiatives which benefit employees, the wider community, or the environment
- ‘Buying local’ for office supplies and catering
- Recognising success, as well as providing financial and wellbeing benefits/incentives to employees
- Offering flexible hours and/or work from home options
Why?
Not only does B-Corp status help a business to become more sustainable, attract new employees and build future resiliency, it also provides assurance to clients and the wider business network that they’re working with a charitable, ethical, and sustainable partner, that values purpose over profit.
16i is currently in the process of working towards B-Corp status, with our mission being to continue to create scalable, effective, and reliable solutions to enable businesses to achieve their digital transformation and deliver sustainable outcomes. We are dedicated to using business as a force for good, to make a positive impact for our clients, society, and the environment through the work we do, and the way that we do it.
Interested in hearing more? Visit our dedicated B-Corp page, or get in touch with the 16i team!