Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Those already certified include consumer brands such as The Body Shop, Abel & Cole and JoJo Maman Bébé – as well as health brands such as pharma group Chiesi and devices company Owen Mumford.
All companies have to change their legal status declaring that they exist not just for shareholder benefit but for the wider benefit of society, and submit documentation detailing their performance across a range of exacting environmental, societal and governance criteria – which can take around a year to be verified.
Matthew Hunt, Managing Director of 11 London, said: ‘Our own values have always driven our work for organisations in the fields of health and humanity, so committing to B Corp status was a natural step for us. Sustainability isn’t just about what we buy, it’s about how we work. And unless we live by what we stand for, we certainly won’t attract and keep talented people who share those values’.
B Corp companies have to re-apply on a regular basis and – even if granted the status – are shown the areas where they can improve further. ‘Because of this’, Hunt adds, ‘this is a work in progress, and it’s challenging all of us here to improve how we do business – individually, as well as collectively.’
NOTES TO EDITOR
11 London is an advertising and communications agency focusing on the areas of health and humanity, with commercial and non-profit brands that improve or prolong life. To learn more about 11 London, please contact: matthew.hunt@11-london.com
