Can B Corp certification anchor sustainability in SMEs?

Summary, in English

B Corp certification is considered a viable instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices. However, there is a lack of evidence to what extent this instrument can anchor sustainability at the core of SMEs. This study investigates the B Corp certification process of a SME, a craft brewery in southern Sweden, regarding the extent to which it helped infusing sustainability into the business’ mission, practices, corporate form, certificates, and capacities. Results show that the B Impact Assessment, as part of the certification process, positively influenced the business’ mission, practices, and capacities. Limited influence on social commitment and adoption of a sustainable corporate form can be explained through regulatory context and time required for deep organizational change. To enhance the effectiveness of B Corp certification, we recommend making it even more adaptable to different geographical and social contexts and increase focus on impact business models.

• Author: Bruna Carvalho; Arnim Wiek; Barry Ness
• Department/s: LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies); CIRCLE
• Publishing year: 2022
• Language: English
• Pages: 293-304
• Publication/Series: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csr.2192
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Topic: Human Geography
• Keywords: business sustainability; capacity building for sustainability; impact business models; sustainability certification
• Status: Published
• Project: Globally and LOCally-sustainable food-water-energy innovation in Urban Living Labs; Accelerating Sustainability Entrepreneurship Experiments in Local Spaces
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1535-3966