Business Enterprise For home

Your business can be a force for good with a B Corp certification

Guest Nov 10 2022

You might have noticed the 'B Corp' logo on our website or social media posts and wondered what it means. B Corp is the certification of a company which measures its social and environmental performance.

There are more that 4,500 B Corporation certified companies around the globe in every industry you can think of. From Ben and Jerry's to Patagonia - these are just a few examples of companies helping to make the world a better place.

Here at Zen, we've been a certified B Corporation since August 2020. While we've always taken care of our customers, our staff, and the environment, being a B Corp certified company allows us to stay true to our values.

Learn how to become a B Corp in our guide - a handbook of everything you need to know to start your journey to becoming a B Corp. We've also summarised below a taste of the kind of things you can expect when becoming a B Corp.

Why become a certified B Corp?

B Corps balance profit and purpose - essentially, making money while also doing good for the world. Becoming a B Corp can help your brand:

Attract the best people. These days, people want to work for companies who share their values. Your registered B Corp status will likely catch the attention of job seekers who share your values.
Make great financial decisions. Once your company earns its B Corp status, you get access to B Hive. This is a platform where the B Corp community can connect, collaborate, and share knowledge. B Hive also contains information on how to become sustainable in a cost-effective way, as well as access discounts and benefits from other B Corps.
Encourage social responsibility. Being a B Corp encourages long-term social and environmental responsibility. Consumers increasingly want to buy from ethical brands - and buying from a B Corp means buying from a company that's working to make a difference.
Review performance. You may be aware of your organisation's weak points, but the rigorous nature of the B Corp certificate will uncover areas of improvement which you may not have previously been aware of.

How are B Corps assessed?

Companies are assessed using something called the B Corp Impact Assessment (BIA) tool. This is an online tool containing 200 questions on a variety of subjects - providing valuable information on the company's performance and areas of improvement.

Companies need a score of 80 or above to achieve the B Corp certification. The questions are split between five impact areas:

Governance. This part of the evaluation assesses your company's overall mission. It also includes your company's ability to protect this mission - as well as your consideration of stakeholders in your decision-making process.
Community. How does your company impact and engage with its community? Not only is this where it operates, but also where you hire and source your materials from.
Environment. This section assesses your business' overall impact on the environment. Think air, climate, biodiversity and land - in addition to supply chain and distribution channels, if those also apply.
Customers. How well do you take care of your customers? This measures everything from the quality of your products to your customer service, delivery times, and feedback channels.
Staff. As an organisation, you have a duty of care to your staff. B Corps contribute to their employees' financial security, healthcare, wellbeing, overall engagement, and satisfaction.

B Corp certification: great for business big and small

B Corp certification is an initiative that's beneficial for small and big businesses alike. Start-ups and small businesses should think about aligning their culture and values with those of B Corp from the start.

Your first step towards B Corp certification would be to complete the B Impact Assessment. Here you will learn about B Corp standards, and what practices and procedures you will need to implement. Becoming a 'Pending B Corp' is the first step on your journey - and gives you the option of continuing it and applying for full certification after one year.

How to become a B Corp

Becoming a registered B Corp is a big business decision that requires a lot of work. On the other hand, it will allow you to reap a whole host of benefits. Here are some steps you can take to make it happen.

Create a business case. Becoming a B Corp is a huge business decision - you shouldn't jump into it without thinking it through. Put the proper planning in place and make sure everyone is on board. Building a business case will help ensure your business goals are aligned and allow for progress to be tracked.
Attract the right kind of people. Millennials will soon be the largest demographic in the workforce. This generation overwhelmingly wants to work for companies who share their values, so they can be their true selves at work. Many B Corps have seen the quality of hires and retention rate improve in the years after they have gained certification.
Get ahead of the competition. Stand out from the crowd with a B Corp certification. B Corp certification will position yourself ahead of your competitors as a forward-thinking company - and could help you earn positive press coverage and media attention.

Zen: a B Corp success story

We have come a long way since we were founded nearly 30 years ago by Founder & Chairman Richard Tang in 1995. We're proud to be using business as a force for good. Since becoming a certified B Corporation, we have been able to continue:

Taking care of our customers and our team. Zen is the only Which? Recommended Broadband Provider 2022 that has also been recognised by Great Place to Work - the global authority on workplace culture.
Working hard for the environment. We started recycling in the office in 2008 and have hit multiple sustainability milestones in the years since. We achieved Carbon Neutral status in 2020 and are now on a path to align to Net Zero following the recommended approach by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Looking after our customers. We often top the Which? table as the most recommended broadband provider for customer service. We think that customer loyalty should be rewarded, and the Zen Contract Price Promise means we won't increase a customer's monthly payments while they are in contract.