Hannah Wowk, sustainability and quality manager, Tilemaster Adhesives – Kerakoll Group, discusses some of the reasons to look into B Corp status for your company.
Have you heard of B Corp? It’s an international movement which started in 2006 led by B Lab, a non-profit network, that measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact with the aim that companies work to have a positive impact on their employees, customers, suppliers, the communities in which they operate and the environment.
To achieve B Corp Certification, part of the process involves an impact assessment, from employee benefits and charity giving through to supply chain practices, in which a company must demonstrate a high level of social and environmental performance. B Corp Certification is given to businesses leading their industries in terms of meeting high standards for social and environmental good, so is not designed to be easy, or quick; there are currently only around 8000 companies over 95 countries that are B Corp certified.
The Kerakoll Group decided to apply for B Corp Certification as it has a long history of working to protect and improve the environment and the wellbeing of its customers, end users and employees. We were certified in 2023 and, from being involved in this and now leading the UK ‘B-team’, I can personally testify to how rigorous the process is.
You may be thinking, it seems so much work? But it is not just a certification; it is a tool.
Firstly, we have our planet to think of; 2023 was the year that brought home to a lot of us how real global warming is, and the effect that it is having on climate change. Did you know that the construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions? We have to shape our business practices for more sustainable operations and supply chains in order to reduce this.
Secondly, since the pandemic, one of the top factors for employee satisfaction is companies that prioritise wellbeing. Investing in employee wellbeing leads to increased engagement, better performance and higher productivity. In addition, giving back to the community builds trust between the organisation and the community, which leads to more support for the organisation as well as creating a positive work environment where employees see themselves as part of something bigger. I know that I find working for an employer, like Kerakoll that is trying to make a difference very rewarding.
Applying for B Corp certification is not possible for everyone, but any size business can start to apply the concepts behind it. There is no question, the world is evolving so we need to evolve with it.
www.kerakoll.com/en
