Ecolabel Spotlight: B Corporation
Environmental certifications are a powerful way for organizations to demonstrate and validate their commitment to positive change for our planet. One of the most stringent certifications out there is B Corporation, or B Corp for short.
Started in the US in 2006, B Corp has spread around the world and, as of October 2023, there are now over 7,300 B Corps operating in 93 countries and 161 industries. The B Corp certification is managed by B Lab, a global non-profit organization. It is founded on the belief that the power of business can be harnessed as a force for good with the right guidance and influence.
How does my company become a B Corp?
Certifying as a B Corp requires a deep review across all aspects of your business. The expectation is that most businesses will not be able to meet the certification without undergoing structural or operational change.
The certification process begins with an online disclosure questionnaire of almost 100 questions that assess your company in 5 main areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. A score is tabulated based on your answers to the questions. A minimum score of 80 (out of 200) is required to proceed to the next step in the process.
Once the questions have been answered and the submission fee paid, a reviewer at B Lab reaches out to initiate the evaluation process. Depending on the backlog and where your company is located, this could take a few weeks or months. The analyst will review your responses to determine your company’s readiness and eligibility for certification.
If you pass this evaluation phase, next up is verification where your company will be required to submit evidence in support of your answers to the questionnaire. This will be in the form of interviews and supplying supporting documentation. This can take 1 to 3 months to complete.
Once you clear the verification stage, your company will be B Corp certified. You will be permitted to use the B Corp mark on your website and public materials and your company will be included in the B Corp directory.
In addition, you need to recertify every three years to retain your B Corp status.
B Corp and the .eco community
There are many amazing members of the .eco community that are B Corp certified. Here are just a few:
Tapio.eco - Belgium
Tapio helps businesses measure, reduce and manage their carbon footprint.
The Positive Project - Switzerland
The Positive Project guides organizations in transforming themselves to support a more just, resilient and equitable world.
Preserve.eco - US
Preserve makes reusable, eco-friendly products using 100% recycled plastic.
Leap.eco - UK
Leap is a creative agency using the power of design and strategy to make positive change.
Sleepn.eco - Spain
Sleepn is working to promote more sustainable and eco-conscious tourism.
Boox.eco - US
Boox is on a mission to eliminate single-use waste through reusable packaging.
Bambu.eco - US
Bambu creates innovative products made from renewable and organic materials.
zeroCO2.eco - Italy
zeroCO2 helps fight the climate crisis with high social impact reforestation.
In addition, there are a few local B Local chapters using .eco domains, such as blocalvancouver.eco and bldwesterncanada.eco.
B Corp and the .eco registry
Prior to launching .eco, we were proud to be one of the first B Corporations in Canada. Moreover, B Lab representatives played a valuable role on the .eco Stakeholder Council – the group of organizations who helped develop the consensus on .eco’s mission and values.
In our 2023 Impact Plan, we set a goal of recertifying as a B Corp this year. We are currently in the evaluation stage and are looking forward to rejoining the B Corporation community. Stay tuned!
Here's what you can do!
If you are interested in certifying as a B Corporation, you can learn more about the requirements and get started on the Impact Assessment.
If you are already B Corp certified, you should showcase the certification on your .eco profile. We recommend linking the certification directly to your B Corp profile. This way that visitors can easily see your B Impact scores and that your certification is current.
If you have applied for B Corp certification, but your application is still in process, please hold off adding the certification to your .eco profile until the certification has been granted. We know you're excited about it (we are too!) but the certification mark is only for certified businesses.