BECOMING A B CORP 43 www.printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2025 - Issue 354 While there are many accreditations, awards, and certifications for businesses to utilise, very few carry the weight of the Benefit Corporations (B Corp) model. This is due to the rigorous assessment process involved but also the aim of the B Corp Movement itself. Created by B Lab, a non-profit network, the initiative was created with the intention of inspiring and enabling people to use businesses as a force for good. With B Labs across the world, which form the B Global Network, the international network’s strategy is rooted in the global theory of change. The theory guides B Lab’s mission to transform the economic system into a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative global economy. Within the past few years several print and signage companies have become certified B Corps, which have been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. In this article we take a look at the advantages, advice, and aspects to remember when applying to become a B Corp. Doing it for the Right Reasons Patagonia, the Jamie Oliver Group, and Ben and Jerry’s are just some of the big global brands to have achieved B Corp status. The assessment evaluates a company’s operations and impact on workers, customers, the environment, and communities, making it extremely important that a company is fully dedicated to the application process and all that comes afterwards. Paul Hargreaves, a speaker, author, and B Corp ambassador, is one of several voices in the world of UK business who is encouraging companies to make a positive impact on the world through their practices. Hargreaves is chief executive officer of Cotswold Fayre, a speciality food and drink wholesale business which was one of the UK’s founding B Corps in 2015. Speaking of becoming a B Corp, Hargreaves says: “There are numerous benefits to becoming a B Corp – credibility and trust; attracting talent; resilience and long-term value; and investor appeal. But there are also challenges.” Hargreaves emphasises that the certification process is time-consuming, something that has been backed up by many print and associated businesses over the past two years. Recent B Corp certified businesses in the industry include PaperCut, Allwag Promotions, Foilco, Eight Days A Week Print Solutions, Datagraphic, Reuseabox, and HelloPrint. Speaking about becoming a B Corp, Hans Scheffer, chief executive officer and founder of HelloPrint, says: “We're active in the print industry, a highly polluting industry of massive size. In that industry, there's a lot of room for different approaches, and with our large network and size, we want to play an active role As environmental concerns increase, and more companies and brands look to change their public persona, David Osgar looks at the complexities and considerations when a business applies to become certified as a B Corp To B or Not to B, That is the Question ▲Reuseabox was announced as one of just seven organisations in Lincolnshire to be certified as a B Corp back in 2023
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==