Becoming a B Corp with NATIVA: a strategic path to creating lasting value

The B Corp movement was founded in 2006 to support the spread of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic model that considers business success as part of a larger, interconnected system. B Corps are companies that work to constantly measure and improve their impact, with the aim of generating economic, social, and environmental value.

NATIVA was the first Italian B Corp and contributed to the spread of the movement in Europe and Italy (which now has over 330 certified companies), and has supported over 140 companies in becoming B Corps.

The economic, social, and environmental context is changing rapidly: companies have a clear responsibility and must address new demands and meet new expectations from all stakeholders—employees, consumers, suppliers, investors, and institutions.

For this reason, becoming a B Corp can represent a strategic opportunity, a way to solidly structure one's commitment, measure impact objectively, and communicate one's impact transparently. Becoming a B Corp does not just mean obtaining certification, but equipping oneself with concrete guidance to innovate one's business model and respond to the challenges of transition with a view to continuous improvement.

For NATIVA, B Corp represents a lever of value: we do not just support companies in achieving certification, but we use the B Corp path to create shared knowledge, encourage involvement, and support the company in generating value in the short and long term. For NATIVA, B Corp is not a goal, but a starting point for broader evolution.

Here's what that means in practical terms:

• Holistically integrating sustainability into corporate strategy: the B Corp process helps companies incorporate sustainability and positive impact into their business model in a comprehensive manner, thanks to measurable indicators and a globally recognized framework.
• Anticipating and facilitating regulatory compliance: the B Impact Assessment is aligned with the main international and European ESG standards.
• Promoting continuous improvement: the measurement process highlights strengths and areas for improvement, providing a solid basis for developing an evolutionary and strategic plan. B Corp standards allow for a 360-degree measurement of a company's impact in seven key areas—from governance to human rights to climate action—and have become increasingly challenging over the years.
• Market recognition: the B Corp logo is an immediate sign of reliability for consumers. In Italy, recognition of the B Corp brand has grown significantly over the last year, rising from 19% to 25%, an increase of 6%. This growth reflects greater public awareness, fueled by the expansion of the Italian B Corp community, which grew by 26% between 2023 and 2024 (Source: B Lab, Italian 2024 Brand Awareness Study Report).
• Joining a global community: B Corps are part of an international network of companies that share values, practices, and vision, creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The introduction of the new B Corp standards—the result of four years of work, two public consultations, and more than 26,000 contributions from stakeholders—marks an important step in the transformation of the global economic system.

Previously, the B Impact Assessment consisted of five impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. To become a B Corp, a company had to achieve at least 80 cumulative points in the five areas out of a total of 200+ points available. Now, according to the new standards, to become a B Corp, each company must meet all the requirements applicable to it based on size, sector, industry, and geographic location. The requirements are divided into two categories: basic requirements and impact requirements (more information here).

NATIVA has developed a new framework that accompanies companies, both already certified and aspiring B Corps, in a structured, gradual, and personalized process that allows them to get to know themselves and compare themselves with the new standards and improve to meet them until they become B Corps.

The method is divided into two main phases:

1. Strategic Assessment
An initial analysis that requires a limited commitment on the part of the company to understand how aligned it is with the new B Corp standards.

In just a few weeks, the company gains a clear and structured view of its position in relation to the new standards, which is also useful for already certified B Corps in view of recertification.

2. In-depth Assessment
The next step is the in-depth assessment. The goal is to build a strategic improvement plan that can lead to B Corp certification and be used as an evolutionary roadmap for the company.

n addition to helping introduce and spread the B Corp model in Europe, we have successfully accompanied more than 140 organizations in the development of sustainability strategies or towards B Corp certification, including B2B, B2C, SMEs, and large groups, among which:
- Sammontana - learn more here
- Opella Healthcare Italia, learn more here

If you are a company interested in improving your impact and becoming a B Corp, contact us!

We will support you in learning about the new requirements, measuring your impact using B Lab standards, and implementing improvements, so that the path to B Corp certification is fully aligned with your sustainable innovation journey. We will do this through an approach that focuses on the active involvement of teams, because every transformation starts with people, and is based on a science-based method that is scientific yet agile, fueled by the multidisciplinary experience of our team, which has a combined total of over 200 years of expertise in the field of sustainability.

1. What is B Corp certification and what does it mean for a company?
B Corp certification is an international recognition that certifies a company's commitment to generating a positive impact on people, communities, and the environment, as well as pursuing economic results.

To obtain it, the company must pass a rigorous assessment called the B Impact Assessment (BIA), which analyzes its performance in different areas of impact in a transparent and measurable way.

Starting in 2024, B Lab has introduced new, even more advanced and ambitious standards that require companies to take concrete and verifiable actions in areas such as equity, climate, human rights, and responsible governance.

Certification is not just a goal, but represents the beginning of a journey of continuous improvement to integrate positive impact into the company's strategy and legal status.

2. Where can I consult the complete new B Corp standards?
You can read the new B Corp standards in detail on the B Lab website, at this link.

3. How much time and resources are needed to obtain certification?
The time varies depending on the complexity and maturity of the company in terms of sustainability. On average, the process can take from 6 months to 1 year. The internal effort includes data collection, the involvement of different departments, and the implementation of improvements. NATIVA helps to make the process more efficient and focused.