We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Green Sense Events have been certified as a B Corporation ™
This has taken a year in total to get to this point, so we thought we'd share a bit about our journey and what it means.
What actually is a B Corp and what does the B Stand for?
As quoted by B Lab, 'B stands for Benefit for all. The B Global Network, mobilizes the B Corp movement to change our economic system to positively impact all stakeholders - workers, communities, customers and our planet'.
B Corp certification means that a company has been verified as meeting B Lab's high standards for social and environmental impact.
Part of becoming B Corp certified is that we agree to embody the values of the B Corp community which is essentially about using Business as a force for good™ .
Is it not just another certification?
When I first launched Green Sense Events in 2020 I was keen to be a certified business, to show the commitment that I was making as a business owner. There were a number of options out there with many focusing on my environmental commitments but B Corp was different. During the impact assessment B Lab assess you on a number of impact areas:
The rigorous process that businesses go through to obtain certification is legendary and this did put me off initially. However in 2021 I met Andy Hawkins from 'Business on Purpose' . Andy supports organisations through the B impact assessment and it was this support that I needed to set me on the right path.
So what's involved and how long does it take?
It took me just over a year from joining Andy's cohort through to receiving certification. The actual assessment took around 4 months to submit then a further 7 months until my call with a B Lab assessor at which point there were a few more pieces of evidence needed and a few questions to revisit before the final review.
For me; going through the process of applying was as important as getting the certification. Putting aside time to focus on my business, thinking about where I could make improvements in how I operate and particularly about my supply chain. Not just the suppliers we choose when planning an event but the suppliers I use, for example when I stay in a hotel on business, who I bank with for both business and personally and whether these organisations consider their own environmental and social impact. I also considered how I can support my team by providing guidance on recycling at home when home working and reducing energy and water consumption.
What are the next steps and how long does certification last?
Once you receive certification the journey doesn't stop there. As part of my commitments to becoming B Corp certified I also made a legal commitment to stakeholder governance which is reflected in our public profile B Corp profile. This also means I will be producing an annual directors report and impact report to share Green Sense Events progress on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG). B Corp re-certify every 3 years provided you continue to keep up the standards and commitments expected of you and your business.
Becoming a B Corp is not just about certification it is about being part of a community and a movement, we are part of the directory of B Corp businesses which outlines our B Impact score and tells you a little bit about us - you can view that here, and we are already enjoying the conversation between like minded organisations within B Hive; the online community.
If you want to find out more about B Corp you can have a look at their guide on how to certify as a B Corp here, I highly recommend Andy at Business on Purpose and of course if you want to chat about our experience of this journey and find out ways in which we can help you with your strategy and action plan please get in touch.