Better for business, better for the planet: Why we want to become a B Corp

We’ve always wanted to be a “good” business. Unfortunately, being “good” is no longer enough. We need to do better – not only for our team, but for our planet, too.

We’ve always tried to pull our weight, but now’s the time to ensure our business plans and processes fully align with our values. And that’s why becoming a certified B Corp seemed like the natural next step for us. This way, we can be sure we’re not only producing the best work for our clients, but doing it with the planet in mind, too. We’re all about doing good work for good people, to be good and do good. After all, if we want to stay in the game for the long run, we need to do it in a sustainable, long-term way.

In recent years, B Corp certification has become increasingly popular amongst companies all across the globe, with over 1,000 registered B Corps in the UK alone. And we want to be one of them.

Becoming a B Corp organisation: What does it mean?

A lot goes into becoming a B Corp, but to keep things simple, it’s mainly about reimagining what success for a business looks like, with a focus on moral and social good. Sustainability in business is no longer just about long-term monetary gain.

Conversations about becoming a B Corp started in the One Degree North studio may years, when the idea was brought to our attention by a few members of the team, and it’s been on our radar ever since.

Like many businesses, we’ve always been aware of our environmental impact, but we soon realised that it’s now more important than ever before with 2022’s UN Climate Report stating that we’re hurtling towards “irreversible damage”.

Essentially, the mission and vision behind B Corp certification is to be a driving force towards positive change, with five core pillars being behind this pursuit: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. Nowadays, the hallmark of a successful business is not just about who can make the most profit, it’s about who is doing right by their people and the planet.

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Many leading companies have gained their certification, such as Ben & Jerry’s, who produce tasty pots of frozen goodness in a sustainable, eco-conscious way. And we want to join them (maybe not in their mission to produce delicious frozen treats, but you get the jist), we want to become part of a network of like-minded businesses.

And it’s not just about gaining B Corp certification, it’s about keeping it. B Corp businesses can easily have their status revoked, like big-name craft beer company, BrewDog. Never strangers from controversy, BrewDog were slammed with criticism for poor treatment of their workers, with current and former employees signing a letter that alleged towards workplace bullying and a “culture of fear”. Amidst this controversy, the punk brewery was stripped of their B Corp status.

What are we committing to, and how long will it take?

We’re committed to transforming the way we work to become a sustainable business, but this isn’t just a choice that one person can make, everyone must be willing to do their bit. That way, we can be sure that every single decision we make (no matter how big or small) has a positive impact on our people, our community, our city and ultimately, our world.

Though we’re committed to this process, we’re by no means saying it’ll be easy (or quick!) process to complete.

To kick start our quest into being ethical business and an eco-friendly business, we must score at least 80 points out of a possible 200 on the B Impact Assessment. Points are measured on factors such as waste and water use, diversity, ethical corporate culture and various other sustainable business practices. And after completing the assessment once, we’ve still got plenty of work to do.

Better for business, better for the planet

Realistically, the B Corp certificate isn’t the ‘B’ all and end all of being a good business, but it’s definitely a huge step in the right direction. And now that we’ve given full transparency, anyone reading can hold us to our word if we’ve not got that certificate by the end of the year.

This signifies a huge environmental, moral and social shift for us, and we’re genuinely really excited to join the B Corp movement.