What does it mean to be a B Corp?

Why is a B Corp accreditation way more than a stamp of approval? 

We’d love to say that our B Corp journey started at the point of our accreditation in 2019 but in truth, we were on the journey long before we knew it nearly twenty years ago. Studio Republic started in a room with our tech-experienced founder, driven to ensure the work he did stood for making a genuine difference to the world as tech was growing and evolving. 

Fast forward 19 years and we are a fully dedicated purpose-first B Corp digital and creative agency who build environmentally responsible and fully inclusive websites, brands and campaigns for numerous charities, changemakers and green technologists, to name a few. And the talented team that makes this happen is united and driven by the progress we help to make with those on the frontline of today’s biggest challenges. 

We know we’re not the only ones out there that care deeply about this. There are plenty of agencies and organisations out there that are already on the path to making the world better. So why does a B Corp accreditation make such a big impact on being a force for good? 

Our most challenging global problems cannot be solved by governments and non-profits alone. It also cannot be solved by one organisation’s efforts alone. We realise that in order to see systemic change within our world and how it operates, it needs to come from collective action, effective collaboration and clear alignment against the globe’s biggest challenges. 

The B Corporation Movement is a non-profit network operating across the world and transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet. Those that are certified within the network are companies verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. 

 

What is the benefit to your organisation?

  • 1) Improving impact of your business by adopting best practice measurement  

We know measuring impact isn’t easy (really!). Through B Corp and their partnerships with world change leaders such as UN Global Compact, it’s never been easier to follow best practice to measure your input to global challenges through your everyday work and governance. 

 

  • 2) True collaboration with other B Corps  and opportunities to join B Locals in the UK and across the world

Often these groups come together to find solutions for specific challenges through workshops, forums and events. Let’s face it the best solutions and products that people truly need, come from a room of people with varied lived experiences and perspectives. 

 

  • 3) Engaging the entire business in the company’s mission & attracting and retaining talent that want to commit to making the world more equitable 

By becoming B Corp accredited, you are demonstrating your commitment to hold your business to account. It’s also a widely recognised network with many prospective employees pursuing work with a B Corp ensuring you continue to grow and build your business with people invested in your journey to being a force for good. 

 

  • 4) Staying accountable to your own mission by frequently evaluating your B Corp scores across Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

This framework gives you the guidance to prioritise the right measures and continuous improvements within your organisation to be a true force for good in the industry. 

 

How can you start the B Corp journey? 

We went through the B Corp journey fully independently and we learned a lot from that. Our advice to ensure you make the best use of your time would be to visit the bleaders website designed and built by us and B Corp. We worked closely with B Corp UK to ensure that this could be a great destination to make the process of accreditation well supported. You can find the support of a trained B Corp specialist who will help you to understand your current position against their framework and guide you through the process more effectively. 

Our main takeaway during B Corp Month is that this is a welcoming community that collaborates together for sustainable progress for business in society and for the planet. Every organisation has the ability to bring something new and different and we really need to have as many seats at the table as possible in order to make meaningful change to the role of business in our world. 

If you’re really serious about being a business which is a force for good, we could not recommend the B Corp community enough. B Corp is with you every step of the way to ensure that you can make effective and meaningful change within the collective force of an international community. So what are you waiting for, start your journey today!