Introduction

‍Achieving B Corporation certification is a significant milestone, marking not the finish line but the beginning of a long-term commitment to ethical business practices. Beyond the celebration of certification, businesses have a continuous responsibility to uphold and elevate their standards of social and environmental responsibility.

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‍Going beyond the logo

‍Becoming a B Corporation is more than obtaining a badge; it's about making a tangible impact on how the business operates. Once certified, companies must continually improve and, address new social and environmental challenges, and always stay true to the new practices they've put in place. So what exactly does that look like?

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‍Setting continuous goals

‍Well, to demonstrate commitment, your business must set bigger and better goals over time. It's not just about being sustainable; it's about becoming a force for good. This dedication to always getting better is the essence of B Corporations. Just like you plan your financial targets, B Corps must plan their sustainability / ESG targets.

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‍Managing what's in place

‍Managing what's in place involves continual efforts to improve B Corporation scores. It requires businesses to report their social and environmental impact every year, ensuring transparency and accountability. This ongoing commitment includes measuring and reducing emissions, regularly auditing and engaging with suppliers, and reviewing and updating policies to align with evolving sustainability standards, and so much more. Becoming a B Corp means you would have introduced so many new things into your company. And now that those things are BAU, they can't be forgotten about.

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‍Achieving your recertification

‍Companies undergoing recertification learn the importance of documenting sustainability practices. This not only streamlines the recertification process but also helps new employees understand what's expected from a sustainability perspective.When you come to re-certifying, it'll feel familiar to certification, only this time you'll need to show the annual impact you've made over the last 3 years as a B Corp, and you'll need to show how you've improved on your score. Again for each thing, having real evidence in place.Understanding B Corporation requirements and making strategic changes can lead to real improvements. Everyone in the organisation needs to play a part in maintaining high standards. Recertification is an opportunity to achieve a better score and show assessors the new things you've implemented.

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‍Final thoughts

‍For B Corporations, the journey is ongoing. The effort put into keeping and improving the B Corp status pays off, not just in scores but in making social and environmental responsibility a natural part of the company's culture. It involves continually measuring and reducing emissions, engaging with suppliers, reviewing and updating policies, and adding new sustainable elements to the business—a commitment to a better, more sustainable future that every B Corporation aims for.

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‍Looking start your B Corp journey?

‍For more information, download our Free B Corp Guide‍

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‍Wanting to know the benefits becoming a B Corp?

‍Check out our article on The Benefits of Becoming a B Corp‍

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‍If you're interested in learning more about B Corp certification, currently in the process or already certified and wanting to improve, find out how Futureproof can help by speaking to our team today. Together, we can create a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for everyone.