Business as a force for good – this is the underlying vision of B Lab. Founded in 2006 in the USA, this non-profit organization certifies for-profit companies as B Corporations – B Corps for short. The "B" stands for beneficial and the benefit to society and the environment these businesses are providing. Today, members of the global B Corp community are working together to make the planet a better place. How are they doing this? By putting business practices to the test. Interested companies must undergo a rigorous certification process according to strict criteria: What values does it live by in terms of its management style? What rights do its employees have? What is its impact on the environment, society and customers? A company with certified B Corp status means that it meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, balancing profit and purpose.
We have always been committed to sustainability. As a purpose-driven company, we strive for a future that is environmentally sustainable and socially equitable. We invest our funds with ethical banks. B Lab praised our certified Weleda natural cosmetics and the equitable relationships we nurture with cultivation partners. Obtaining B Corp certification was a logical next step for us, so we can put our values into practice even more effectively. Instead of taking many individual measures as in the past, we have now launched an ambitious holistic climate protection programme.
As a global leader in certified natural cosmetics and holistic medicines, we've achieved a strong B Corp score of 120.66 points - a 13% increase increase from the initial certification score (106.8 points) in 2021. The news reinforces Weleda’s position as a sustainability pioneer, and demonstrates Weleda’s ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future.
In the UK, there are over 2,000 B Corps across 330 sectors. But there is only a handful of pharmaceutical businesses operating in this country that have achieved B Corp certification, all with considerably lower scores, and even fewer of those are actively manufacturing here such as Weleda in Derbyshire.
B Lab brings together companies working towards a unifying goal: to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy for all. "Striving for the common good is a paradigm shift," explains Dr. Stefan Siemer, Head of Sustainability at Weleda. "Profit remains an important goal, but we must never achieve it at the expense of people, animals or the environment." B Corporations are committed to a long-term process of continuous improvement: every three years they must re-certify and meet increasingly ambitious standards. The aim is not to be less bad, but to do more good for people and the environment through exemplary business practices. B Corporations are by definition social enterprises, which use their profits to add value to society.
To receive B Corp certification, companies work with B Lab to evaluate their business, down to the last detail. At the heart of the process is the B Impact Assessment. This tool measures how business decisions affect all stakeholders – shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers. An Impact Assessment Score of 80+ points allows a company to take the next step towards certification. Legal accountability plays a key role: for example, by resolution of the Weleda owners, the pursuit of the common good and ecological well-being is now anchored in our bylaws. Certified companies support the B Corp movement with an annual certification fee, sign the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence and agree to the terms of agreement. Our positive impact is supported by transparency: the detailed assessment report is available to the public.
As part of the B Corp community, we want to be an active role model and serve by example. This includes openly sharing our experiences with the entire B Corp movement. We offer advice and support to other business leaders interested in certification. Through lectures, workshops and internal working groups we are contributing our insight and expertise. Advocacy at the political level is also important, and we are actively seeking dialogue with decision-makers. "We all know the most important sustainability problems of this world," notes Stefan Siemer. "As a global movement, B Corporations are showing that financial, social and environmental goals can be achieved simultaneously and are mutually beneficial."