The time has come! Since March 2024 the Nerd Republic is officially a B Corp!
You can find our public profile here: Zum Nerd Republic B Corp Profil
But one step at a time.
What even is a B Corp?
A “B Corp” or “Certified B Corporation” is a type of company that voluntarily undergoes a rigorous social and environmental performance audit. This process is carried out by the independent non-profit organization B Lab.
The “B” in “B Corp” stands for “Benefit”. It symbolizes these companies’ efforts to not only maximize profits, but also to create a positive social benefit. By incorporating social and environmental goals into their business practices, B Corps strive to create holistic value that goes beyond purely financial metrics.
What characterizes a B Corp?
- Social and environmental responsibility: B Corps are committed not only to maximizing profits, but also to having a positive impact on society and the environment. In doing so, they take into account the interests of employees, communities, suppliers and the environment.
- Transparency and accountability: B Corps must report transparently on their social and environmental impacts. This promotes accountability and enables consumers to make informed decisions.
- Legally established commitments: B Corps have stipulated in their founding documents that they not only consider the interests of their shareholders, but also the interests of other stakeholders.
- Assessment and certification: To be certified as a B Corp, companies must undergo a comprehensive assessment covering various areas such as governance, employee treatment, environmental impact and customer satisfaction.
- Best practices and collaboration: B Corps are part of a global movement of companies committed to a more sustainable and equitable economy. They share best practices and often work together to achieve greater positive impact.
Certification as a B Corp certifies that a company meets strict social and environmental standards and is committed to positive social change. It is a kind of seal of approval for companies that pursue social and environmental goals as well as financial ones.
What does B Lab™ want to achieve?
B Lab™ is the network transforming the global economy for the benefit of all people, communities and the planet. Our international network of organizations is leading economic systemic change to support our shared vision of an inclusive, just and regenerative economy.
We started in 2006 with the idea that a different kind of economy is not only possible, but necessary. We became known for certifying B Corporations™, i.e. companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. But we do much more than that. We are building the B Corp movement to change our economic system – and to do that we need to change the rules of the game.
B Lab creates standards, policies, tools and programs that change the behavior, culture and structure of capitalism. We mobilize the B Corp community into collective action to address key societal challenges.
By harnessing the power of business, B Lab has positively impacted more than 150 industries in over 80 countries to help them balance profit and purpose. Together, we are shifting our economic system from benefiting a few to benefiting all. We are shifting from concentrating wealth and power to ensuring equity, from exploitation to regeneration and from favoritism in individualism to interdependence. We will not stop until all companies are a force for good.
The Nerd Republic as B Corp
Ever since Republic was founded, it was clear to us that we wanted to break new ground in the way we work and act. We looked into different approaches and certifications quite early on. It was important to us to “really” do something and not just decorate the shop window. In our research, we came across B Lab and basically fell in love with the approach straight away.
We were particularly impressed by the comprehensive approach with regard to employees, the community, customers, etc. Internally, we already work in a very innovative way. We eliminate positions in favour of roles, have full transparency, self-organization and personal responsibility. Externally, we have a sustainable focus. This is not only ecological, where we travel by public transport and offset the remaining emissions. We also see our customers as partners and attach great importance to being perceived as a partner rather than a supplier.
Our journey started around August ’23 with the decision: “We’re just going to do it now.” At the time, we didn’t quite know what to expect on the journey and how much effort it would really involve. Despite our already good alignment, we found the certification process in particular to be very value-adding. We came up with some good new ideas for our company, took some low-hanging fruits with us and prepared a thick backlog for implementation.
B Corps certification is not the end, but the starting point of a journey. It is about the continuous development and implementation of measures. It is also very important for us to talk about it. We believe that even small posts, small tips, can inspire other people and organizations. From there, something new can emerge and another small step towards a better world can be taken.
Next Steps – With you?!
If we have piqued your interest in B Corps with this article, you are very welcome to contact us. We will accompany you on your journey to certification and beyond. Starting with basic information on certification, we can accompany you with a “delta analysis” and provide advice and support for B Corp certification. In addition, we have special workshops that deal with the topic of sustainability from a B Corp perspective. Together, we work on topics and ideas that go beyond the CO2 calculation in the context of sustainability.
Please get in touch with our Tomorrow Manager Kathi. You can reach her easily at hello@nerdrepublic.de