CodeBit, like other organizations around the world, is certified as a B Corp and is committed to promoting a true sustainable transformation in the corporate landscape and the economy in general.

Recently, the consumption profiles and behaviors of society have changed. Currently, people prefer to buy products or request services from organizations that direct their focus and actions toward environmental and social impacts. In fact, it is because of this trend that the ESG agenda has increasingly established its presence in the business world.

According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Union + (a North American agency), 87% of Brazilian consumers choose sustainable companies.

For these and many other reasons, talking about the B System is extremely important, especially since the mission of this global movement is to engage companies to establish sustainable development through a certification. In short, to become a B Corp there are several criteria, but generally, it is necessary to prove the business's responsibility regarding socio-environmental issues.

Want to discover more deeply what the B System is, how to become a B Corp, and what the greatest benefits are? Then, read on and check out the article that the CodeBit blog team has prepared for you!

What is the B System?

The B System represents a global movement of companies that direct their actions toward building a more inclusive and egalitarian economy. In this sense, the letter B stands for “benefit corporation”.

The founders of the B System are Americans Jay Cohen and Bart Houlahan, the same founders of AND 1 - a basketball accessories company that, like any other, also had the purpose of making a profit, but in addition, sought to offer better experiences to its employees.

At AND 1, employees had access to various benefits that were gradually eliminated after the company was sold.

Cohen and Houlahan were absolutely frustrated when they realized that the organization they had created, within a totally unique model, had become just another company without any proposal for social transformation. In view of this, at that moment, they decided to act.

Shortly after, they started a mobilization to drive the commitment of private companies to social benefits and the transformation of the world. After a long history, this movement consolidated as the B System.

The B System in Brazil

Since the movement was created in the US, it is natural that it arrived in Brazilian lands after some time. The good news is that the B System has been growing rapidly here. Currently, hundreds of organizations already have the certification, such as CodeBit, Natura, Insecta, Mãe Terra, Programa Vivenda, among others.

How to be a B Corp?

Now that you know the general history and purpose of the movement, you must be wondering: “but how do I join?” Right? Before answering this question, it is important to highlight that the B System accepts companies of all sizes and segments, provided their mission is to seek solutions to social and/or environmental problems through their business and generate positive impacts.

In this scenario, profit and impact are viewed equally. Therefore, before attempting certification, it is important to analyze whether the company's reality aligns with the project's purpose and to identify the organization's aptitude for the B Impact Assessment.

Due to the seriousness of the certification, the process is extremely thorough and requires companies to answer 200 questions regarding their management processes, relationships and agreements with suppliers, policies regarding employees, internal practices focused on logistics, and much more. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide proof for all the actions mentioned.

The questionnaire is customized according to the size and segment of the organizations.

However, it is not enough to just achieve B certification. It is also necessary to maintain it, and for that, the company must update its assessment every two years, providing additional documentation and scoring at least 80 points in the evaluation.

This entire process is of utmost importance, as it ensures that certified companies are truly aligned with the established criteria.

For more information, click here and access the Sistema B Brasil website.

What advantages are offered by the B System?

Extremely advantageous for an organization's image, certification as a B Corp recognizes that the practices and actions adopted are truly effective, strengthening the transparent and sustainable stance of the business.

Moreover, when a company becomes part of the B Corp network, it expands the possibilities for exchanging experiences and the chances of closely observing how certain practices can guarantee good business results.

Another positive aspect is strategic networking, which allows managers to connect with leaders focused on making their companies better for the entire world.

In general, B Corps attract more clients, investors, and collaborators due to their positive image, ensure more transparency in internal processes, and convey more credibility and reliability to the public.

To be a B Corp, you must promote and reinforce the social responsibility of your business!

The biggest requirement to achieve B Corp certification is to truly demonstrate the positive impact generated by your brand. After all, this system analyzes good practices within certified organizations, as well as the levels of engagement in social, environmental, and corporate issues.

Therefore, the first step to becoming a B Corp is to really reflect on the policies, culture, and general internal reality of the business. Once this is done, it is necessary to start establishing goals to foster favorable environments for the development of new business models, capable of delivering products and services that bring not only profits but also result in benefits for the entire population.

ESG: the fundamental acronym

Last but not least, taking ESG seriously is an essential step to generating a positive impact on society.

These three “magical” letters stand for Environmental, Social, and Governance.

The term emerged in 2005 in a report issued by the UN - United Nations - which was prepared after the establishment of a United Nations Global Compact.

The report in question highlighted that profitable and sustainable businesses are those that invest in environmental, social, and governance factors.

Furthermore, the Sistema B Brasil website itself outlines the 4 essential attributes of a B Corp. They are:

• having a strong purpose;

• incorporating the B clauses;

• commitment to continuous improvement;

• acting with interdependencies.

Click here to learn more about the conditions.

We, at CodeBit, are part of the group of more than 2,000 global companies that have joined the B system.

We, at CodeBit, are part of the group of more than 2000 global companies that have adopted the B system.

This indicates that our organization meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact and is prepared to foster the equitable progression of sustainability.

Our daily commitment is to identify and resolve social and environmental problems, in addition to meeting all measurable standards of social and environmental performance, as well as public transparency and legal responsibility.

If you found this article interesting, click here and discover the Advantages of partnering with a B Corp!

Furthermore, keep an eye on the CodeBlog. We will have news here soon. Warm regards and see you in the next post!