44 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2025 - Issue 354 ◄ Hans Scheffer, chief executive officer and founder of HelloPrint in transitioning our industry into a much more sustainable one.” HelloPrint, which is headquarted in Rotterdam, operates across Europe and in the United States. Scheffer says the company is aiming to become the world’s largest and most sustainable platform for customisable printed products with the help of its network of 300 manufacturers. Scheffer adds: “HelloPrint achieved its B Corp certification last year after an intense three-year trajectory. This journey was not only fuelled by trends in our industry, but also by the desires of our workforce; a highly involved and engaged international diverse group of people who are conscious about the world of tomorrow.” Speaking about the application process, Hargraves says that companies need to carefully evaluate and document their practices across various areas, which can be particularly difficult for smaller businesses with fewer resources. There is also the challenge of maintaining certification, especially as this requires ongoing effort and commitment as companies must recertify every three years and demonstrate continuous improvement. Hargreaves adds: “At their best, B Corps represent a new kind of business that balance’s purpose and profit – a model for companies committed to solving social and environmental problems.” However, Hargreaves emphasises that he has concerns for the future of the movement as businesses treat certification similarly to an ISO standard by tweaking a few elements but largely carrying on the same as before. Hargreaves stresses: “Becoming a B Corp cannot just be a box-ticking exercise and doing just enough to creep over a line; it must be the start of a journey that will foundationally challenge everything we do and how we do it. We may even decide to completely change our business model. If a business really is going to help restore our broken planet and bring radical social justice, then it isn’t just a case of doing business better, but about creating better, different businesses.” Scheffer agrees with Hargreaves, when asked about the advantages of certification he says: “B Corp is not about gaining advantage, it's about becoming part of a movement and deeply incorporating sustainability principles into the DNA of the company. The results are that our team is developing its products and services with a different view, leading to a much more sustainable product portfolio that appeals to our larger customers.” When it comes to applying to become a B Corp, Scheffer suggests starting small but with big ambitions: “Only do it because you have the intrinsic motivation to do so. Becoming a B Corp is not setting some checkmarks, it's changing your complete business philosophy. This starts with inspiration, with engagement of your team, with accountability, and with implementation. It's a long journey, but it's worth it." Beyond B Corp This year, certification for B Corp is changing so that companies are required to reach a minimum standard in ten different areas. Continuing his concerns about the purpose of B Corp, Hargreaves questions how radical a change this might be. Reflecting on his experience with B Corp, Hargreaves says: “Excited by our first few years of a B Corp and wanting to encourage more businesses to become a force for good in the world, I wrote my first book, Forces for Good, which was published in 2019. However, in the writing of BECOMING A B CORP ◄ Paul Hargreaves, B Corp ambassador, and chief executive officer of Cotswold Fayre and Flourish Becoming a B Corp cannot just be a box-ticking exercise and doing just enough to creep over a line; it must be the start of a journey that will foundationally challenge everything we do and how we do it There are over 1,700 B Corps in the UK, with significantly more based in London, the South East, and South West, which B Lab UK is trying to address 1,700
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