The end of March also sees with it the end of B Corp month, the annual global campaign run by B Lab, with the aim of showcasing a new way of doing business and how it is changing the world. Throughout March you may have noticed some of your favourite sustainable brands, shouting out about being a B Corp, but what does it really mean?
What is B Corp month?
The term B Corp originally came from the term “benefit corporation” and is used to identify businesses that demonstrate high social and environmental performance. Every year in March the global campaign brings brands together to celebrate what it means to be a B Corp. This year the focus has been on #BehindTheB, aiming to restore the trust in businesses by revealing how the B Corp community is making business a force for good.
The Movement
B Lab was established in 2006 with the mission to transform the economic system into a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative global community, paving the way for making businesses a force for good. Since then, B Lab have certified over 4000 B Corporations in more than 70 countries and over 150 industries.
How do you become a B Corp?
Any for-profit business that has been in operation for at least 12 months can apply to become a B-corp. Each business is assessed by the B Lab to make sure they are meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance as well as demonstrating transparency and accountability throughout their company. During the assessment every B-Corp is scored using five impact areas, governance, customers, workers, community and environment.
Governance looks at how the company’s governance considers all stakeholders in the business
Customers identifies how the business is having a positive impact on their customers lives
Workers ensures each company is taking care of their workers, improving their lives and wellbeing
Community looks at how the business is giving back and making a positive contribution to the community
Environment makes sure the company is prioritising and taking care of our planet throughout their practices
After reviewing these factors each business is given an overall B Impact Assessment score which must be over 80 to achieve the B Corp status.
What does it mean to Treeapp?
From working closely with our planting partners around the world, supporting rural communities and independent farmers at our planting sites, to our behind-the-scenes team at the Treeapp HQ, we aim to create a positive impact in everything we do.
At Treeapp we are so proud to have been certified as a B-Corp back in December, achieving an overall B Impact score of 101.1! It is a recognition of the hard work of everyone in our team, and our community, working together to give back to people and the planet and make Treeapp a force for good!
Photo: Treeapp Co-founders (From left to right: Jules Buker, Leo Ng, Godefroy Harito)
