B Corp Month: 10 top tips to become a B Corp
This March we celebrate B Corp Month – a month dedicated to raising awareness of what it means to be a B Corp and supporting other companies about how to be a better business with purposeful growth and collective progress.
Becoming a certified B Corp just over a year ago was both a proud moment and a steep learning curve. The process made us reflect deeply on who we are as a business, how we operate and what impact we want to leave behind.
In the spirit of B Corp Month, we’re sharing 10 things we wish we’d known when we started our own B Corp journey – insights that might help anyone else thinking of joining the movement for a more responsible, sustainable way of doing business.
Our B Corp experts, Vivienne and Lou
Our successful B Corp accreditation was facilitated by two of our directors, Vivienne and Lou.
Their expertise and enthusiasm contributed to our positive experience in gaining B Corp certification – drumming up support from all parts of the business. Here, Lou and Vivienne share their top 10 tips for other businesses considering their own B Corp adventure. You can read more about our journey to B Corp here.
1. Start with your ‘why’
Certification isn’t a badge – it’s a mindset. Understanding whyyou want to become a B Corp will help you stay motivated through the process. In a nutshell do it for the right reasons!
2. Don’t rush the groundwork
Take time to audit your policies, practices and culture before diving into the B Impact Assessment. Preparation saves a lot of stress later.
3. It’s not just for sustainability teams
Everyone in the business plays a part – from HR to finance to creative. Make it a company-wide journey that includes everyone, not a side project.
4. Documentation is everything
B Lab wants proof, not promises. Get used to backing up every claim with policies, reports or data. We find keeping a spreadsheet or Monday board with links to all policies etc all in one place super handy.
5. Be honest about your gaps
You don’t need to have everything perfect. The real value comes from identifying where you can improve and have the biggest impact. Plus never underestimate the power of the 1% rule – small incremental improvements on a regular basis can lead to great change.
6. Celebrate small wins along the way
From new environmental policies to community initiatives, acknowledge progress as you go – it keeps momentum up and reminds you why you’re doing this.
7. Expect to evolve
The process may challenge you to rethink long-standing habits or systems. That’s a good thing – embrace the change.
8. Lean on the community
The B Corp network is incredibly open and supportive. Ask questions, share ideas, and learn from others’ journeys. We found attending networking events in our local area really helpful – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how welcoming a community it is.
9. Think long-term
Certification is just the start – maintaining and improving your score means continual reflection and action.
10. Enjoy the journey
Becoming a B Corp is about progress, not perfection. Of course your score matters, but remember that by simply certifying you’re already achieving something great. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to align business success with positive impact