Sustainable Energy Solutions For B Corp Certification

The way we do business is constantly evolving, and of all the ways that this is happening in the 21st century, perhaps the most striking is the way in which we manage our energy usage. While the bottom line remains important, the climate emergency has increasingly focused minds on our obligations towards our planet and the importance of a clean, sustainable future. 

One way to make this commitment is through B Corp Certification, which measures your business's performance in key areas that demonstrate your business’s green credentials and financial performance. 

B Corp Requirements in the UK

The B Corp Certification process ordinarily takes six to ten months to complete. Its primary focus is on social impact, environmental responsibility, and financial performance. The B Corp movement's mission is to reshape what we think of as ‘success’ by placing increased value on social and environmental impact and financial performance.

Certification is not a project to be undertaken lightly. All companies seeking to become a B Corp must meet the B Corp legal requirement and update their Articles of Association to include mission-aligned legal language. Making the legal change before certification is required for all companies with 0-49 full-time employees. For businesses with over 50 employees, additional time is granted depending on the company’s legal structure, but it still has to be done. This is not an insignificant undertaking.

Sustainable Energy for B Corps

Sustainable energy is at the heart of B Corp Certification. To gain certification, UK businesses must meet specific criteria related to energy usage, waste management, and resource sourcing. 

Energy usage is assessed regarding how a company’s energy usage impacts water, air, land, climate, and biodiversity. Waste reduction and recycling initiatives are evaluated. The impact of a company’s supply chain and distribution channels on the environment–known as ‘resource sourcing’–is also assessed.

Implementing Sustainable Energy Solutions

You can take steps to improve your energy efficiency. The use of smart technologies, such as energy monitoring systems, smart lighting, and building automation, can help a business meet the environmental requirements of certified B corporations. 

But if you really want to boost your B Corp certification score, sustainable energy solutions are your best bet. Switching your reliance on fossil fuels and your national grid dependence by using on-site renewable energy generation technologies like wind turbines, solar photovoltaic (PV), and biomass systems will reduce your business’s carbon footprint and decrease energy costs. 

Navigating the B Corp Certification Requirements

Achieving certification demonstrates that your company meets high standards of verified social and environmental performance set out by B Lab’s independent governing body. To progress with B Corp Certification, your company must first score 80+ points on a B Impact Assessment (BIA), using over 200 questions through a free online platform used by B Lab, which verifies performance across 5 key areas of Governance: Workers, Community, Environment, & Customers. 

Meeting 80 points doesn’t usually happen after your initial assessment, but improving your company's impact is easier thanks to a range of tools and resources built into the BIA. Bear in mind that you will need to provide documentation and evidence to obtain full certification. B Lab has a full guide to the B Corp certification process on its website. 

Can a Company Improve Its B Corp Score by Switching to Renewable Energy?

Yes, it can, and significantly! B Corp Scores place considerable weight on a commitment to environmental sustainability, and one of the best ways to demonstrate this commitment is by switching to renewable energy sources such as solar PV, wind, or hydro.  

Beyond Certification: The Benefits of Sustainable Energy

B Corp certification is a lofty aim with sustainability at its core, but this doesn’t make it an onerous undertaking for your business because sustainable energy has such easily demonstrable benefits for your business: 

Environmental Impact

The extent to which your business will have an environmental impact can only be judged on a case-by-case basis. Still, it’s universally understood that we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Every kilowatt of power you can take from renewable sources results in less coal or natural gas being burned, fewer emissions into the atmosphere, and a cleaner future for us all. 

Cost Savings and Efficiency

Switching to renewable energy can also lead to substantial cost savings and other efficiencies for your business. Solar PV arrays take just a few years to pay for themselves, and the right set-up could provide your business with free energy for years. The Smart Export Guarantee even ensures you can get paid to store and export excess energy back to the grid. 

Enhancing Brand Reputation and Customer Loyalty

Adopting sustainable practices offers businesses a multifaceted advantage. It goes beyond the immediate environmental benefits to fundamentally alter how these companies are perceived in the marketplace. This can significantly enhance a company's brand image, positioning your business as a forward-thinking, responsible, and ethical entity in a crowded market where consumers increasingly make values based choices. This enhanced brand image can translate into increased customer loyalty and a competitive edge that is hard to replicate through traditional marketing strategies alone.

Obtaining full B Corp certification for your business significantly benefits your company. It’s designed to make business leaders think differently and prioritise acting responsibly and producing profit. Whether you’re considering investigating certification now or in the future, moving to renewable energy is a great place to start building a profile that will get it for you. With potential benefits to your bottom line, market share and company reputation, it’s a switch you should be looking to make, whether you intend to go as far as B Corp certification.