ESG
“ When you care about the products and services you deliver , that ’ s how to create impact ”
JOACHIM KRAPELS B LAB GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF INSIGHTS
HOW TO BECOME B CORP
“ You definitely do not have to be ‘ born ’ B Corp . We are strong believers in improvement journeys and that whatever your starting point is , anybody can do it ,” says B Corp ’ s Joachim Krapels .
“ You can also take the impact assessment because it ’ s a free tool even if your immediate aim is not certification . The aim is that we get companies to go on improvement journeys .
“ Some are born B Corp companies that were created with this aim , whereas others could have been companies that have been in existence for a while , have operated like a ‘ normal ’ business for a long time , but are now thinking that maybe they have a contribution to make .
“ Maybe they go on an ESG measurement journey and then start thinking more about impact . It ’ s not just about managing the risks , it ’ s also about making a positive contribution . Then they may find their way to becoming B Corp Certified as a way of reaffirming this new direction .”
“ There ’ s a financial health and resilience associated with being B Corp Certified ,” Joachim Krapels , B Lab Global Director of Insights tells Sustainability magazine .
“ When you care about the products and services you deliver , that ’ s how to create impact .”
B Corps are not profit-first companies , but it is important to remember that they are for-profit . B Corps do not chase huge profits at any cost , rather they strive for financial health , building resilience and nurturing sustainability .
“ B Corps are different . We ’ ve been on a mission since 2006 to introduce a new way of thinking about business and moving away from a traditional shareholder capitalism model to one of stakeholder governance ,” explains Krapels .
“ Stakeholder governance is the idea that a company takes all of its stakeholders – that ’ s people , planet , community – into consideration when making business decisions , thinking about strategy , but also thinking about profit and purpose .”
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