Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Can B Corp certification anchor sustainability in SMEs?

Carvalho, Bruna ; Wiek, Arnim and Ness, Barry LU (2022) In Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 29(1). p.293-304
Abstract
B Corp certification is considered a viable instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices. However, there is a lack of evidence to what extent this instrument can anchor sustainability at the core of SMEs. This study investigates the B Corp certification process of a SME, a craft brewery in southern Sweden, regarding the extent to which it helped infusing sustainability into the business’ mission, practices, corporate form, certificates, and capacities. Results show that the B Impact Assessment, as part of the certification process, positively influenced the business’ mission, practices, and capacities. Limited influence on social commitment and adoption of a sustainable corporate form... (More)
B Corp certification is considered a viable instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices. However, there is a lack of evidence to what extent this instrument can anchor sustainability at the core of SMEs. This study investigates the B Corp certification process of a SME, a craft brewery in southern Sweden, regarding the extent to which it helped infusing sustainability into the business’ mission, practices, corporate form, certificates, and capacities. Results show that the B Impact Assessment, as part of the certification process, positively influenced the business’ mission, practices, and capacities. Limited influence on social commitment and adoption of a sustainable corporate form can be explained through regulatory context and time required for deep organizational change. To enhance the effectiveness of B Corp certification, we recommend making it even more adaptable to different geographical and social contexts and increase focus on impact business models. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
business sustainability, capacity building for sustainability, impact business models, sustainability certification
in
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management
volume
29
issue
1
pages
12 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85112384239
ISSN
1535-3966
DOI
10.1002/csr.2192
project
Globally and LOCally-sustainable food-water-energy innovation in Urban Living Labs
Accelerating Sustainability Entrepreneurship Experiments in Local Spaces
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
606a88d4-690a-4035-aae3-d7e20c9bcf98
date added to LUP
2021-08-16 08:41:51
date last changed
2024-01-20 10:26:32
@article{606a88d4-690a-4035-aae3-d7e20c9bcf98,
  abstract     = {{B Corp certification is considered a viable instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices. However, there is a lack of evidence to what extent this instrument can anchor sustainability at the core of SMEs. This study investigates the B Corp certification process of a SME, a craft brewery in southern Sweden, regarding the extent to which it helped infusing sustainability into the business’ mission, practices, corporate form, certificates, and capacities. Results show that the B Impact Assessment, as part of the certification process, positively influenced the business’ mission, practices, and capacities. Limited influence on social commitment and adoption of a sustainable corporate form can be explained through regulatory context and time required for deep organizational change. To enhance the effectiveness of B Corp certification, we recommend making it even more adaptable to different geographical and social contexts and increase focus on impact business models.}},
  author       = {{Carvalho, Bruna and Wiek, Arnim and Ness, Barry}},
  issn         = {{1535-3966}},
  keywords     = {{business sustainability; capacity building for sustainability; impact business models; sustainability certification}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{293--304}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management}},
  title        = {{Can B Corp certification anchor sustainability in SMEs?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csr.2192}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/csr.2192}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}