B Corp FAQ

By Vicki Bohlsen
President

When Bohlsen Group became the first Certified B Corp in Indiana, we were asked lots of questions. Below, I’ve compiled some of these inquiries into an FAQ list to help answer what it really means to be B Corp Certified. If you’ve ever wondered how a B Corp company operates, I encourage you to read through this list and contact me with any additional questions that might arise.  

Q: What really is a B Corp Certification? 

A:  According to B Lab, a B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency based on factors such as employee benefits, charitable giving, supply chain practice and others. 

But, it’s much more than that. 

To me, it is a pledge that Bohlsen Group is committed to putting people and the planet above profits by implementing as many best practices as possible for the environment, my team, customers and community.

Q: Is it difficult/time consuming to become B Corp Certified?

A: It is very arduous; however, it is completely worth it. Not only do we have access to the community of all other certified companies and the B Lab resources, but the certification acts as a sort of road map for me in making all business decisions. 

Some resources we have access to through B Lab include great content, chat rooms (where we can call upon other B Corp companies for advice), and B Corp marketing and social media toolkits.

Q: What is the difference between a Public Benefit Corporation and a B Corp?

A:  A Public Benefit Corporation is a type of legal entity. A B Corp is a certification. 

Q:  Does a B Corp only focus on environmental sustainability?

A: No, environmental sustainability is just one of five tenets of the B Corp focus. The five tenets of B Corp include employees, environment, community, governance and customers.

Q: Once you become a B Corp, does the certification last forever?

A: No. Bohlsen Group became a B Corp in 2016, and we had to go through a recertification process two years later. Now, B Lab has changed to recertifying every three years, and Bohlsen Group is currently going through a recertification.

Q: How do you know if you should apply for B Corp Certification?

A: First and foremost, I think you have to be passionate about your company’s commitment to using business as a force for good. If you are actively engaging and ensuring that you are putting best practices to use while also pursuing other ways in which you can make an impact, you may be a good candidate.

Q: Are there any cons to being B Corp Certified?

A: There has been some negative publicity surrounding the B Lab certification process recently, as companies who don’t “seem” to uphold the B Lab values are getting certified. I think what matters most is that companies around the world are beginning to pledge their efforts toward social responsibility. It’s important to remember that we all started somewhere. I truly believe that the benefits of being B Corp Certified outweigh any negatives, and nothing will deter me from my passion of being an active member of the B Corp community.

Q: Once you are B Corp Certified… What’s next?

A: You don’t have to DO anything except pay your dues; however, that wouldn’t be in any company’s best interest. B Corps should really take advantage of the great resources available from B Lab. Some companies use B Corp certification as a marketing tool. This can be done on a variety of levels, but I don’t recommend getting B Corp certified so you have this marketing tool. Most companies are proud to be committed to social responsibility and do make it part of their brand’s mission, though. Aside from that, companies can always strive to improve by aiming for other certifications – 1% For the Planet, carbon neutrality, etc.

Q: How does being B Corp Certified relate to ESG?

A: From what I can glean, B Corp Certification covers all matters related to ESG. ESG is a term now commonly used in place of CSR, I think, because Environment, Governance and Social impacts are considered more measurable.

Q: Why did Bohlsen Group become B Corp Certified?

A: Bohlsen Group was operating under the tenets of being socially responsible as best as we could because this really mattered to me as a business owner. One day, someone said something to me about CSR and I wasn’t familiar with that term. That same person later said we should become B Corp Certified. I had no idea what it was and researched it. I felt like someone had put words to my actions.

B Lab has a free assessment and it was instrumental in helping me to hone in on other socially responsible actions I could institutionalize. I took the assessment over the course of about five months because I’d stop and implement something and then get back in and continue. Then, I’d stop and implement again. And so it went until I reached the end and we had enough points to get certified.

I was so grateful for the guided free assessment and proud that we met the standard! This all happened at the same time that Benefit Corporation as a legal entity was being made into law in Indiana. I didn’t want to change our organizational structure, but I wanted to make a nod to our commitment to social responsibility, so we got certified.

Business as a force for good

Becoming B Corp Certified was absolutely the right move for Bohlsen Group. It not only helped us define our potential for impact and set goals according to B Lab standards, but we were also able to position ourselves better in the market. We began only working with organizations that use business as a force for good, and we gave ourselves opportunities to give back to the community, like offering a discount for nonprofits and other social impact companies and volunteering regularly as a team and providing paid time off for team members to volunteer monthly. Bohlsen Group’s B Corp Certification matters and is expressed in everything we do - we have a commitment to always improve and make a stronger impact in the community.