BCorp certification for SMEs: the Foound example
August 14, 2023, 2023asemaphore-CSRinfluencers
There are many labels in the world of CSR, but one that has gained momentum is BCorp certification, to the point where even large companies have taken it up. This label demonstrates that " companies (...) meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and legal responsibility. ". These companies complete a questionnaire, the B Impact Assessment, which covers the areas of governance, employee well-being, consumer rights, the environment and the community.. If they obtain a score of at least 80 out of 200, they become certified and join the BCorp community. Despite the many advantages, one of the major obstacles to any certification is the workload required, which can put off smaller structures. I had the opportunity to discuss this with Fanny Arnaudo, founder of Foound who obtained this certification despite the fact that Foound is a small company with a limited team.
Hello Fanny, thank you for accepting this interview. Could you tell me why it was important for you to begin the BCorp certification process?
Foound is an independent, autonomous structure with both profit and non-profit activities. I've been keen to put sustainability at the heart of my organizational model, but I'm aware that it's a unique model that may not be understood by everyone. With BCorp certification, I show transparency in the way I operate, and it brings clarity to Foound's reading grid. The BCorp organization organized training sessions on our premises and the founder advised me to acquire the certification. That's how I came into contact with them.
What was the certification process like for you? What difficulties did you encounter?
It was time-consuming and costly. It takes extra time and effort. It's a real commitment to start a BCorp certification process, as you have to provide numerous accounting documents and fill in a long questionnaire. We can enlist the help of consultants trained to guide companies through the certification process. Their remuneration depends on our means, but certification itself costs me 1,000 Swiss francs a year, as it's based on sales. What's more, you have to score 80 points out of 200, and that's not easy!
Despite the cost of certification, has the label brought you any benefits?
As I explained, it brings clarity to the Foound reading grid. What's more, it is accompanied by points for improvement that help, for example, to optimize sustainability and employee well-being. There's also the opportunity to join the BCorp community and take part in training events and workshops. What's more, the questionnaire covers a wide range of areas and requires information such as sales figures, so it shows that we're transparent.
Following certification, what are the next steps?
Certified companies are audited every two or three years and have to repeat the questionnaire, but only for the last two years in order to keep the label.
What advice would you give to small businesses wondering whether they should get certified?
The BCorp label makes it easier to structure and self-assess, especially when you're a small organization and easily caught up in several tasks. There is no real corporate sustainability control body, so this label adds value to what we do at Foound and allows us to take stock. However, the certification process is time-consuming and sometimes requires costly modifications if you're not sustainable from the outset. We may have to make major changes internally, and that's expensive too. Nevertheless, I'm satisfied overall, as it has enabled me to develop partnerships and attract customers who share my values and are equally committed to sustainability. Finally, I'd say that certification adds credibility.
Thank you Fanny for these valuable tips. To sum up, here are the reasons why even small companies should get certified.
Certification brings clarity to the way you operate.
It's proof of your company's transparency and sustainability.
It forces you to structure yourself better and take stock of your responsibility and sustainability actions.
It promotes your sustainability actions.
It attracts partners and customers who share your values.
It forces you to do better in terms of responsibility and sustainability.
Ana