“Going through the certification requires taking a close look at how you run your business. A B Corp, otherwise known as a Certified B Corporation, is a business that has met certain high standards established by the non-profit B Lab, which provides the B Corp certification. The B Impact Assessment evaluates how your company’s operations and business model impact your workers, community, environment, and customers. However, the actual process of becoming a certified B Corp is long and arduous. The BIA assesses the impact of both your company’s day-to-day operations and your business model—both what you do and how you do it. The B Corp legal framework helps companies protect mission through capital raises and leadership changes and gives entrepreneurs and directors more flexibility when evaluating potential sale and liquidity options. The B Corp Certification is a third-party certification administered by the non-profit B Lab, based in part on a company's verified performance on the B Impact Assessment. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their … VIEW SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE VIEW COMPLAINTS PROCESS. Note: Your company may also be eligible to participate in an Assessment Review and Documentation process that does not require an Assessment Review call. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Who is B Lab? “Going through the certification requires taking a close look at how you run your business. After the review, a company completes a documentation review focused on their business model. B Corp Certification requires a minimum verified total score of 80 across all impact areas. The Assessment is a free public good provided by B Lab. Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. Certified B Corporations (B Corps or B Corporations for short) are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good. How should we approach the Assessment? Score Verification, Documentation & Assessment Review In order to graduate from a Pending B Corp to a Certified B Corporation, a company must have a verified score of at least 80 on the assessment within 12 months after achieving Pending status. After completing the B Impact Assessment, eligible companies interested in pursuing certification undergo a review process with B Lab to determine if they meet the 80-point bar for Certification. The wait time between assessment submission and the assessment review varies depending on volume, as well as how much  time you need to present supporting documentation to validate select assessment responses. B Corps meet rigorous and transparent standards around social and environmental responsibility that support the triple bottom line. Your responses to the B Impact Assessment determine your total numeric score. This is your complete guide to the performance, legal, and transparency requirements to become a Certified B Corp. Once companies meet all below requirements, they pay an annual Certification fee. Background checks include a review of public records, news sources, and search engines for company names, brands, executives/founders, and other relevant topics. How should we approach the Assessment ? What is a B Corp? Today, there are over 1,800 certified B Corps across the world. The standardized components within the BIA and the interactive assessment process with B Lab provide a holistic and systemic model for sustainable business. Your company’s B Corp Recertification is not complete until the Standards Review Team has all of the information and documentation requested throughout the process. Certifying as a B Corporation goes beyond product- or service-level certification. The time it takes to complete the assessment will vary based on your company's size and complexity. Auditing for B Corp businesses. A&B Process Systems is an industry leader in the design, fabrication, automation and installation of stainless steel process systems used in a variety of industries. Le changement. Certified B Corps that are wholly-owned subsidiaries or public companies are subject to a mandatory on-site Site Review during each three-year certification term. The Site Review will take place either in-person or virtually and typically takes between 6-10 hours depending on the size and scope of business. About 1,700 companies have gone through the process so far, including big companies like Etsy, Ben & Jerry’s and Patagonia. Benefit corporations are legally empowered to pursue positive stakeholder impact alongside profit. The B Corp assessment is comprehensive and bracing. Which year of data should I use to complete the Assessment? B Lab promotes mission-aligned legal structures like the benefit corporation that join the interests of business with those of society. Our company is a holding company that has multiple subsidiaries or franchisees. The B in B Corp is open to interpretation. This process typically takes several months after the assessment has been submitted. Ce sont des entreprises à but lucratif (for profit) qui souhaitent progresser et démontrer leur impact positif (for purpose) en étant évaluées sur leur performance globale tous les 3 ans. To become a B Corp, businesses need to complete the B Impact Assessment and ensure they meet the legal requirements. B Corps need a minimum of 80 out of 200 points to get certified. The questions on your company’s B Impact Assessment are determined by company size, sector, and market, with around 200 questions total. B Corp Certification requires a minimum verified total score of 80 across all impact areas. Certification Process. You can find the pricing schedule for the annual fee on the Certification homepage. Companies that earn a minimum score of 80 out of 200 points undergo an assessment review process, essentially a conference call verifying the claims made in their assessment. How much do scores change after reviewing the Assessment with B Lab Staff? B Lab, a third-party non-profit certifies it. From your supply chain and input materials to your charitable giving and employee benefits, B Corp Certification proves your business is … Site Reviews take place virtually or on-site at the discretion of B Lab. B Impact Assessment. Companies also must meet certain transparency requirements to become Certified B Corps, as laid out in the B Corp Agreement. Simply taking the Assessment does not automatically make a company a B Corp nor does it obligate the company to pursue B Corp Certification. Companies with material items in their Disclosure Questionnaire or background check may be asked to make incremental information transparent on their online profile. Due to high volume of interest (a good problem to have), response times and scheduling of review calls may take longer than expected. The benefit corporation is a legal structure for a business, which exists in 34 states across USA, Italy and Colombia. The Assessment is a free public good provided by B Lab. Per essere riconosciuti come B Corp si deve completare il protocollo di analisi B Impact Assessment e ottenere un punteggio che non può scendere sotto 80 punti su una scala 0-200. To learn the legal requirement and B Corp Agreement for your company’s particular structure and location, use our Legal Requirement Tool. Companies pursuing Certification are subject to background checks by B Lab staff. Finally, we run regional engagement programs to onboard new businesses in our movement. Measure what matters most: your social and environmental impact The Disclosure Questionnaire allows the company to confidentially disclose to B Lab any sensitive practices, fines, and sanctions related to the company or its partners. Companies under one year are eligible for Pending B Corp Status. Best practice guides, goal-setting features, and improvement reports allow any company to use the BIA to create a roadmap for improved performance year-over-year or quarter-by-quarter. However, with a head start on the legal requirement and full knowledge of the B Impact Assessment, you should have everything you need to certify with confidence. The Pros of a B Corp… Certified B Companies are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. The time it takes to complete the assessment will vary based on your company's size and complexity. What happens when I hit Submit for Review? Achieve a score of at least 80 points on the B Impact Assessment and submit it for review. The assessment is painstaking, as Prosenjak and others attest. The benefit corporation is a legal structure for a business, like an LLC or a corporation. Can I see the list of documentation we will need to prepare for B Corp Certification? Our company is a holding company that has multiple subsidiaries or franchisees. After completing the B Impact Assessment and Disclosure Questionnaire, click “Submit for Review.” After submitting your assessment, your company will undergo an initial Evaluation to determine the most appropriate certification process based on the individual characteristics of your business. While the B Corp Certification is primarily based on assessing a business's positive impact, material negative impacts are also considered through the Disclosure Questionnaire, background checks, and a public complaint process. Takes ~2-3 hrs to complete the Full Assessment. How should we … From there, you may* schedule a time to review the B Impact Assessment over the phone. We achieved 58% of the total possible score, and we work hard to be a responsible company. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. B Impact Report What types of organizations should take the Assessment? To become B Corp certified, companies have to complete the B Impact Assessment (BIA), a comprehensive questionnaire that determines a company’s impact on their community, employees, the environment, and beyond. Get prepared. A poorly-managed company won’t pass. It engages the entire workforce, gets them focused on what they do well and shows where you can improve,” says Heim. To obtain B Corp certification, a company must complete a B Impact Assessment (BIA) and earn an audited minimum score of 80 out of 200 possible points and recertify - with the aim to continuously improve - every three years. A simple look at which questions your company already excels at and which practices it could improve on. ©Copyright 2020 B Lab. En … Here are some of the other pros and cons of a B Corp to consider before filing your articles of incorporation. A company’s BIA score can be a barometer, which shows where a company is … In acknowledgement of the fact that changing corporate structure or articles takes time, B Lab allows a grace period for mid-to-large sized companies with 10+ employees to complete the legal requirement after certification is complete, the length of which varies depending on structure and location. Les entreprises labellisées à date sont de toutes tailles et tous secteurs, icônes historiques comme Patagonia, Natura, Alessi ou Ecover, « jeunes pousse… Une fois l'évaluation d'impact social et environnemental réalisée, elle la soumet pour vérification à B Lab. Takes ~2-3 hrs to complete the Full Assessment. If required, an Assessment Review call typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. The review process is central to the B Corp Certification and Community - it is our process to ensure that B Corps are stewards in creating a positive impact and meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. Learn more about requirements for subsidiaries and other related entities. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. By incorporating the BIA into its everyday business practices, Bridges demonstrates how environmentally and socially conscious companies can build a foundation for stronger long-term … B Corp Certification is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance. Benefit corporations and Certified B Corporations are often confused. A B Lab Standards Analyst will reach out to confirm your submission and some details about your business. Which year of data should I use to complete the Assessment? B Corp n'est pas seulement une évaluation, ou une étiquette, c'est une communauté vivante d'entrepreneurs qui veulent inventer quelque chose de nouveau." Cette certification est attribué par B Lab [archive], un organisme sans but lucratif établi aux États-Unis, en Europe, en Amérique du Sud, au Canada, en Australie et en Nouvelle-Zélande. B Corporation Australia & New Zealand Finally, we run regional engagement programs to onboard new businesses in our movement. See where you stand to meet the 80 point bar for B Corp certification and benchmark your results against 40,000 other businesses. To achieve this, businesses measure their social impact and environmental impact, using the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager tool. Tip: Set aside ~1 hr and estimate your answers for a first pass. Assess how your company is better for your workers, community, customers, and the environment. Tip: Once you've completed at least 90% of the Assessment, select "Submit for Review," and our staff will be in touch to schedule your Review. B Corporation status can be achieved by receiving accreditation from B Lab (a non-profit organisation). The B Corp Certification is a third-party certification administered by the non-profit B Lab, based in part on a company's verified performance on the B Impact Assessment. The questions on your company’s B Impact Assessment are determined by company size, sector, and market, with around 200 questions total. Benefit corporations are legally empowered to pursue positive stakeholder impact alongside profit. Small companies have, too, including Andy Smith Photography in Devon, Penn. Select a question to jump to the answer . At this time, B Lab also reserves the right to ask for clarifying documents based on the initial review. Our goal for this review is to verify the requirements of the certification and further confirm the accuracy of affirmative responses in the company's B Impact Assessment. These new corporate forms give entrepreneurs the freedom to define success beyond profit for their businesses and protect their … This article explains the Review Process, which typically applies to all small and medium businesses, and may also apply to larger companies depending on their structure. This isn’t just good marketing—B Corps also respect and share with each other, which is good for business and good for the ecology of a socially responsible economy. To qualify for certification, companies must score a minimum of 80 points out of a possible 200. The list of documentation requested depends on your specific answers to the B Impact Assessment and is generated after your company completes an Assessment Review with B … Benefit corporation è uno stato giuridico – ammesso in 35 Stati degli USA, in Puerto Rico, in Italia (dal 1º Gennaio 2016) come Società Benefit, in Colombia (2018), British Columbia (2018), e Scozia (2018) – pensato per aziende a scopo di lucro che vogliano andare oltre l'obiettivo del profitto, e che vogliano massimizzare il loro impatto positivo verso la società e l'ambiente. Measure what matters most: your social and environmental impact Certifying as a B Corporation goes beyond product- or service-level certification. Return later after researching more in depth questions. The B Impact Report is the summary of a company’s scores on the B Impact Assessment by category and contains no question-level information. The questions on your company’s B Impact Assessment are determined by company size, sector, and market, with around 200 questions total. Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on all their stakeholders as part of the terms of their Certification. If I use the Assessment, does our company have to become a B Corp? In order to certify, companies must also sign their B Corp Agreement, which commits them to meeting the legal requirement if they have not done so prior to certification. ... you will only need to produce any documentation if your company chooses to apply for B Corp Certification. LEARN MORE ABOUT B CORPS To obtain a B Corporation certification, a company first completes an online assessment. Note: This Verification Process described below will typically apply to all companies that earn under $100M in annual revenue, and may also apply to larger companies depending on their structure. B Corp Basics. Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. B Lab delivers the B Corp Certification to companies that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, legal accountability and public transparency. Many organizations are both SEA members and certified B Corps. B Corp certification is a tougher but more rewarding process. What types of organizations should take the Assessment? Typically, the majority of these responses are minor in nature and therefore no further action is needed. Gives legal protection to directors and officers to consider the interests of all stakeholders, not just shareholders, when making decisions; Creates additional rights for shareholders to hold directors and officers accountable to consider these interests; and. The Disclosure Questionnaire is the final series of questions your company will answer in the B Impact Assessment. Ben & Jerry's. All Certified B Corps share their B Impact Report publicly on their B Impact Reports on bcorporation.net. Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balance purpose and profit. Get Started on the SDG Action Manager. Meeting the B Corp Requirements. After twelve months, Pending B Corps go through the full B Corp Certification process. The Verification Process. Companies provide information and/or documentation to typically  six to fifteen selected questions related to company operations to support verification. The assessment is verified by our independent Standards Management Team and companies must provide documentation and other evidence to support and verify their answers. Companies also must meet certain transparency requirements to become Certified B Corps, as laid out in the B Corp Agreement. So the process must be rigorous, not a badging exercise for any business that simply wants to look good. B Corps have been around in the US since 2007, with brands like Ben & Jerry's and Patagonia achieving certification. See Sample Questions. In order to maintain B Corporation certification, a company must update their assessment every three years, provide additional documentation to verify their answers, and achieve at least 80 out of 200 available points. If you go on to get certified as a B Corp, there is a chance your small business will get audited by B Corp, which says it checks up on about 10% of its certified companies each year. The B Corp standards involve a corporation’s verified social and environmental performance, its impact on its workers and customers, its public transparency. 2. 1. Join 5 0, 0 0 0 + businesses using this free, confidential tool See how people are building better businesses* *You don't have to be the CEO to use this tool Rob Michalak. Because the B Impact Assessment measures performance over the past twelve months, only companies that have at least one year of operations are eligible for B Corp Certification. A Certified B Corporation is a for-profit business dedicated to social and environmental issues. The content of the B Impact Assessment is overseen by B Lab’s … It makes you be even better. The benefit corporation is a legal structure for a business, like an LLC or a corporation. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their … Assess how your company is better for your workers, community, customers, and the environment. To become certified as a B Corp, companies must complete an assessment of their impact in five categories: environment, workers, customers, community and governance. After completing the B Impact Assessment, companies undergo a multi-step verification process to determine if they meet the 80-point bar for Certification. A poorly-managed company won’t pass. Included in the Assessment are questions related to four topic areas: governance, workers, community and environment. In order to become a certified B Corp, companies are required to: 1. What is an Assessment Review? B Corp Certification requires a minimum verified total score of 80 across all impact areas. They make decisions that make a positive impact across their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. More information can be found here.To learn more about the benefits of becoming a B Corp, visit this page.. To join SEA, visit our membership page to learn more about membership categories and benefits. It was originally derived from “benefit corporation”, a type of US corporate structure, but B Corp means many things to many people. For Bridges Fund Management, a London-based fund manager founded in 2002 and a B Corp since 2015, the B Impact Assessment (BIA) also is part of its evaluation process for potential investments. A growing number of multinational companies are interested in engaging with the B Corp movement. The time it takes to complete the assessment will vary based on your company's size and complexity. As an added bonus, B Corps are highly successful. All rights reserved. It engages the entire workforce, gets them focused on what they do well and shows where you can improve,” says Heim. This call typically results in score adjustments. This process ensures that companies who become Certified B Corporations continue to engage in a high level of impact with their stakeholders, even as the business grows or changes. 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