B Corp Certification: Navigating the Path to a More Sustainable Business

There is no doubt that if more businesses incorporated sustainability practices, our world would be in a different shape. If you’re a company looking to achieve success while also reaching the pinnacle of what a sustainable business should be, here are a few things to consider that could help you get your B Corp Certification:

A great place to start when seeking to do more for the environment on your way to becoming a B-Corp business is to make sure you’re using renewable electricity plans to power your facilities. From solar-powered energy to wind turbines, there are various options to consider if you want to make a move that is undoubtedly a crucial component of showing up as a sustainable business. While this could be an investment if you have to revamp the way you power your facilities or update things, it’s worth it when you know you’re doing more for the environment while also doing more for your business.

From equipment and machinery that you need to use to your employees commuting to work or international business travel, there may be a variety of ways that you’re contributing to the pollution of the environment with carbon emissions.

In order to get B Corp certification, you must be showing efforts to reduce your carbon footprint. So, if your company doesn’t currently have environmental policies in place, it’s a good idea to work with an environmental consultant who can help you determine new ways of doing things. From reducing the need for air travel to promoting public transport or cycling commutes to work, there are various options for doing more to reduce carbon emissions.

Aside from your impact on society, you also want to think about your impact on society. Essentially, companies with B Corp certifications are expected to function with humanity and the planet in mind. From the way that employees are taken care of to the way that you provide support in low-income or underprivileged communities, there is something to think about as you build up your business.

A B Corp business will typically be doing something to improve communities or aspects of local society. This could be anything from starting a charity for underprivileged children to using your product sales to raise money for a charity.

While we want to be careful with replacing humans with technology, there could be areas where you could be cutting back on manpower thanks to the advancements in technology. Automating certain processes can allow you to cut back on energy use and commute less, so you’re also reducing your carbon footprint.

While the human touch is necessary for many things in business, for the things that it’s not, consider how using technology to streamline things in your company can help you cut back on your negative impact on the planet.

While you may be incorporating a variety of policies to positively impact the environment, you may have some blind spots where you may not be seeing things that are negative for the planet. Some things may not be all that obvious, but think about how you ship products to consumers or how things are packaged. You could be saving money and energy and avoiding waste, as well as reducing your carbon footprint, by taking a closer look at what you could be improving and avoiding.

As you seek to become a B Corp.-certified business, think about working with an environmental specialist who can help guide you to better practices that help your company be as sustainable as possible. As a brand that has a large impact on the planet in comparison to one individual, it’s important to explore the possibilities of sustainability for your business.