B Lab Europe 2023 Annual Report

Page 1


INDEX

1

Foreword B Lab Europe Who We Are & Our Role in Changing the Economic System

3

How We Drive Change

3.1 Mobilizing the European B Corp Community

3.2 Beyond B Corp: Empowering Businesses in Europe to Measure Their Impact

3.3 Setting High Standards for Businesses in Europe

_ Through B Lab’s Evolving Standards

2

How We Work

2.1 Our European Network

_ B Lab Benelux

_ B Lab France

_ B Lab Germany

_ B Lab Ireland

_ B Lab Italy

_ B Lab Nordics

_ B Lab Portugal

_ B Lab Spain

_ B Lab Switzerland

2.2 Markets Development

_ Through Advocating For Mandatory Legislation

4 About Our Organization

4.1 B Lab Europe’s Team

4.2 B Lab Europe’s Board of Directors

4.3 Financial Overview

5 Looking Ahead Contact

Foreword

As I reflect on 2023, the dedication and achievements of our 1,800+1 strong European B Corp community fill me with pride. Your commitment to being better businesses— prioritizing purpose alongside profit—continues to inspire and lead a meaningful change within your own organizations, while setting a powerful example for businesses globally.

2023 also marked a significant period in the sustainability landscape in Europe, characterized by an intensified focus on ESG criteria. Organizations are now making substantial strides by increasing public awareness, advocating for stringent regulations, and collectively acknowledging the urgent need to transition toward a sustainable and equitable future. At B Lab Europe, our impact extended far beyond boardrooms

by engaging with policymakers and participating in advisory councils. These efforts contributed to the evolution of policies supporting a sustainable economy by encouraging long-term value creation over short-term gains. In this report you will read about our focus on expanding the B Corp movement, setting high standards for businesses, and strengthening our advocacy efforts. By focusing on these strategic areas, we aim to deepen our impact, inspire broader participation across the network, and contribute to a European and global economy that benefits all stakeholders.

Together, we will challenge and expand the boundaries of what it means to be a better business, promoting a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Thank you to all Certified B Corps for your unwavering dedication and for being the trailblazers who inspire others to follow!

With deep appreciation,

B Lab Europe

Who We Are & Our Role in Changing the Economic System

B Lab Europe is part of an international network that transforms the global economy through standards, policies, tools, and programs for businesses and certifies companies—known as B Corps—that are at the forefront of this change.

In collaboration with the Global Network led by B Lab, we are shifting our economic system from profiting only a few to benefiting all, from concentrating wealth and power to ensuring equity, from extraction to regeneration, and from prioritizing individualism to embracing interdependence.

B Lab Europe is working alongside teams around the globe, including in Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand, Africa, Asia, the UK and North and South America.

Together, we believe that a different kind of economy is not only possible but necessary — and that businesses can lead the way while meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. At B Lab Europe, we see our role in realizing this vision on the European continent. Learn more

How We Work

2

B Lab Europe is driving change in 29 European countries. We do so by coordinating and working closely with our European Network of local country teams and by utilizing B Lab Europe’s Markets Development team, supporting regions where the B Corp movement is still in its early stages of development.

2.1 Our European Network

Our local teams are key to realizing our vision of a better economic system in Europe. They support and engage with B Corps, businesses, non-profits, advocates, and other actors of change – all part of the B Corp movement – on a national level. B Lab Europe is coordinating, enabling, and supporting their efforts. By the end of 2023, the European Network counted more than 120 employees. Diverse yet unified, we share a common vision to transform Europe into a continent of impact-driven businesses, where

the norm is for companies to operate for the benefit of people and the planet, not merely for profit. To foster collaboration, interdependence, and strategic alignment, all B Lab teams across Europe are gathering annually in person. Further, B Lab Europe conducts an annual network-wide survey to collect feedback and measure satisfaction and alignment.

Learn more about our local B Lab teams

B Lab Nordics

B Lab Ireland

B Lab Europe

B Lab Benelux

B Lab France

B Lab Germany

B Lab Spain

B Lab Switzerland

B Lab Italy

B Lab Portugal

Local B Lab teams across Europe

2023 has been a year of consolidation and expansion for the B Corp movement in the Benelux. With 355 B Corps by the end of the year, we grew by 56% compared to 2022. In addition, we:

• Launched the Employee Engagement Toolkit, designed to empower B Corps in understanding, driving, and monitoring employee engagement in a company’s sustainability journey. This toolkit is now used globally.

• Ran the B the Change Bootcamp in Luxembourg.

• Hosted over 50 in-person and virtual info sessions, webinars, and workshops to promote the B Corp movement.

• Launched the B Local Compass, guiding B Corps in certain geographical areas to increase their impact.

• Successfully celebrated B Corp Month with the theme Going Beyond.

• Launched, together with 4 B Corps, the Let’s Play Equal board game: the most unfair game in the world, kickstarting conversations about diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace.

B Lab France has a well-structured team and Board of Directors with a co-presidency guiding our strategic efforts. In 2023, we created spaces for reflection and action to advance our mission. Our primary focus was mobilizing organizations and stakeholders around our standards, accelerating their transformation, and facilitating the adoption of our Evolving Standards. This strategic approach enhanced our educational outreach, measurements, research, targets, and networks. Key initiatives included the IBM2 Series project and the regional La Défense Can B program. The B Academy pilots significantly impacted students and teachers, transforming the culture and learning fundamentals for future business leaders. This year, these efforts collectively contributed to shaping the companies of tomorrow.

B Lab Germany welcomed Andrew Green as the new Managing Director in July 2023. His entrepreneurial flair and a renewed focus on B Corp Certification have helped guide the team into a new era of rapid growth. In the second half of 2023, our team has grown quickly, doubling in size to keep up with demand for B Corp Certification among German businesses and ensure high-quality service. Moreover, we certified 40 new B Corps, bringing the total to an impressive 101 Certified B Corps in Germany thus far. Exciting plans are in motion for the future, with a focus on further professionalization in 2024 to pave the way for the ongoing growth of the B Corp movement in Germany.

Learn more about B Lab Germany

2023 was a momentous year of growth for B Lab Ireland and the Irish B Corp movement. From December 2022 to December 2023, the number of certified B Corps in Ireland more than doubled to 33 companies, making Ireland one of the fastest-growing B Corp communities globally. In February, B Corp Bailey’s hosted the first Irish B Leader training for sustainability consultants to support companies pursuing certification. In November, B Lab Ireland officially launched to oversee the development of the B Corp community and support Irish companies in joining the movement. Following the launch, we hosted the first community gathering in Ireland. The event brought together Irish B Corps with representatives from B Lab Global, B Lab Europe, and B Lab UK for an evening of insightful discussions and community networking, centralizing collaboration as a key pillar of the Irish movement going forward.

Learn more about B Lab Ireland +

Fondazione B Lab Italia was established in May 2023, and a team of eight members became operational in October 2023. The first B Lab Italy office opened in Milan and the first in-person Italian B Corp Summit since 2018 was held. The transition from Nativa – B Lab Europe’s longstanding local partner in Italy – to B Lab Italy concluded in December, launching new projects and communications for the Italian B Corp community.

B Lab Italy developed a content and PR strategy to establish itself as the leading entity of the B Corp movement in Italy. Our 2023 efforts focused on raising brand awareness for B Corp Certification. Strategic stakeholder engagement projects for advocacy and policymaking involved the Ministry of the Environment, the Industry Committee of the Italian Parliament, and the cities of Milan, Udine, and Orvieto. Participation in Ecomondo, Italy’s leading sustainability exhibition, helped raise awareness and attract potential B Corps.

Learn more about B Lab Italy

By the end of 2023, we reached a significant milestone in the Nordics when we celebrated one hundred certified B Corps. We celebrated this with the entire community with five simultaneous events in the five capitals of the Nordic region under the headline ‘100 good reasons for hope’. B Corps from the entire region came together and enjoyed an inspirational keynote speech by Maria Toft followed by conversations about hope and how B Corps can co-create the future we are all dreaming of.

Supported Countries Portugal

B Corps

Headquartered in the Country

28

Team Size

3

Office Location

Lisbon

The year 2023 was transformative for B Lab Portugal, marked by a leadership transition and the official launch of our organization. We introduced a multidisciplinary team formed through an innovative consortium of three companies—Sair da Casca, Maze Impact, and Felicidad Collective—and presented our main objectives for the movement: strengthening community engagement, increasing visibility and communication, stakeholder mobilization and strategic growth. Throughout the year, we organized several key activities, including:

• February: First B Corp community gathering with B Lab Europe

• March: Online webinar on Employee Engagement during B Corp Month

• May: Article reflecting on 10 years of the European B Corp movement

• June: Launch of our newsletter Impacto B Corp, highlighting the Portuguese community’s impact

• October 31: Official launch of B Lab Portugal with an event for the media

• November 30: Second B Corp community gathering, and the first with the new B Lab Portugal team. We presented our 2024 strategy and collected feedback from the community.

Learn more about B Lab Portugal +

2023 has marked a year of consolidation and expansion for the B Corp movement in Spain. There are now over 250 Certified B Corps operating in Spain, 208 of them headquartered in Spain, and more than 10,000 businesses in Spain use the B Impact Assessment (BIA) to manage their impact. In addition, we also expanded our network of B Leaders (378) and B Locals (7). Moreover, we have elevated the movement to relevant institutions, reaching over 3,700 media mentions. Finally, we have worked to increase B Corp’s brand recognition by collaborating with renowned public figures like Kilian Jornet. Our campaigns have reached 21 million people. 1 out of 6 people in Spain already know B Corp! The biggest highlight of our year was hosting the seventh edition of the B Good Day. With more than 500 participants, the annual meeting of the Spanish B Corp movement is already one of the go-to events for impact economy.

Learn more about B Lab Spain +

In 2023, B Lab Switzerland’s dedication to its goal of establishing B Lab as the preeminent sustainability ecosystem in the country has shown great results. Throughout the year, we welcomed 25 new B Corps to the Swiss B Corp community and hosted a series of impactful events to discuss solutions for a sustainable future. We co-launched a new alliance in Switzerland, the Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises, which advocates for policies and standards that promote beneficial business conduct, leveraging collective action for societal improvement. Our proposal for a new corporate status is being discussed by the Swiss parliament. In November, B Lab Switzerland hosted the second edition of the SWISS IMPACT FORUM, bringing together over 450 participants for a day filled with inspiration, collaboration, and meaningful discussions to catalyze positive change.

Learn more about B Lab Switzerland

2.2 Markets Development

Established in late 2022, B Lab Europe’s Markets Development team was entrusted with fostering the meaningful growth of the B Corp movement across new borders. Driven by a strong commitment to an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative growth and development model, the team focused its efforts in 2023 on piloting and scaling initiatives that make B Lab’s tools and certification more accessible, relevant, and impactful to new audiences in countries where the B Corp movement is in the early stages of development.

To meet the growing interest and demand in impact management, stakeholder governance, and B Corp Certification, we grew our team and established new country partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations. We further invested in expanding our offerings, support, and presence in emerging B Corp markets, and engaged extensively with local B Corps, B Leaders, and advocates of our movement.

Data from December 31, 2023. At the date of publication of this report, additional countries in this list have seen their first B Corp certify.

Supported Countries

Albania

Armenia

Austria (7 B Corps)

Azerbaijan

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria (4 B Corps)

Croatia (1 B Corp)

Cyprus (1 B Corps)

Czech Republic (2 B Corps)

Estonia (3 B Corps)

Georgia

Greece (3 B Corps)

Hungary (1 B Corp)

Kosovo

Latvia (2 B Corps)

Lithuania

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

North

Macedonia

Poland (9 B Corps)

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia (1 B Corp)

Slovenia (3 B Corp)

Türkiye (9 B Corps)

Ukraine

Team Size 3

Data from December 31, 2023

Establishment of new Country Partners: B Lab Portugal & B Lab Ireland

In 2023, we formally established B Lab Portugal and B Lab Ireland through two new partnerships focused on catalyzing the movement across these markets.

• In Ireland, our partnership with B Corp Earth’s Edge has spearheaded the remarkable development of the movement in the country. The partnership has overseen the expansion of the community by 153% compared to 2022, making it one of Europe’s fastest-growing communities of 2023. Learn more about B Lab Ireland + +

• In Portugal, a pioneering consortium-based partnership with B Corps Sair da Casca, Maze, and friend of the movement Felicidad brings together decades of experience in impact consulting, innovation, and strategic communications. Learn more about B Lab Portugal

Expanding and Accelerating Impact in Emerging B Corp Markets

In 2023, the Markets Development team placed an important focus on expanding our ability to provide dedicated and bespoke certification and community engagement support to companies in emerging B Corp markets – enhancing their experience with our certification program, and providing them with more tools and opportunities to become active and engaged members of the B Corp community.

• In March 2023, the team held the first B Corp Month virtual panel, focusing exclusively on emerging B Corp markets, amplifying the impact of incredible initiatives led by B Corps in Slovenia, Türkiye, and Greece.

• With a firm belief in the importance and impact of local, in-person engagement, the team brought the Austrian community together for the first time in Vienna and co-hosted a B Corp workshop and panel at the 2023 Baltic Sustainability Awards in Riga.

Learn more about our initiatives

B Lab Europe’s Markets Development team at the 2023 Baltic Sustainability Awards in Riga

3 How We Drive Change

From growing the community of Certified B Corps across Europe and raising our standards for B Corp Certification to advocating for bold legislative changes in the European Union, B Lab Europe is committed to changing the economic system in Europe for the better.

3.1 Mobilizing the European B Corp Community

At the heart of the B Corp movement, with its various actors dedicated to economic systems change, is the community of Certified B Corporations. By the end of 2023, we proudly counted 1,644 Certified B Corps in Europe, with 484 new businesses joining the community that year. B Corps

How We Enabled Growth in 2023

are businesses verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. While becoming a B Corp is a significant milestone, it is also the starting point of a continuous impact improvement journey , with mandatory recertification every three years. In 2023, 122 B Corps successfully recertified, with 77% of them maintaining or increasing their positive social and environmental impact, as reflected in their impact score.

B Lab Europe’s Markets Development team and our country teams are supporting companies on their path to B Corp Certification and the continuous impact improvement journey. In 2023 alone, the European B Corp community grew by 42%.

The European B Corp community in 20233:

1,644 B Corps in Europe

29 Countries across Europe in which B Corps are operating

170,000 B Corp employees in Europe

~€ 79 Billion

Revenue of B Corps in Europe

484

New B Corps certified in Europe

The increasing number of large and multinational corporations showing interest in B Corp Certification in 2023 and going through B Lab’s rigorous assessment is a testament to the legacy that pioneering small and medium-sized companies have built around leading impact management practices. Companies with less than 1,000 employees make up 97% of the European B Corp community and, therefore, continue to be both the backbone of our movement and an inspiration for larger companies committed to scale positive impact. By the end of 2023, 25 large and multinational corporations headquartered in Europe were certified/recertified via B Lab’s Large Enterprise Approach

B Corps in Europe by Size: Small and medium-sized companies make up the majority of the B Corp community in Europe.

0 employees

1-9 employees

10-49 employees

50-249 employees

250-999 employees

1,000+ employees

B Corps in Europe by Industry: B Corps are changing the way business is done in 126 industries across Europe.

21% professional & techinal service

13% manufactured goods

13% rretail

12% information, communication & technology

10% wholesale

8% financial and insurance activities

4% agriculture, forestry & fishing

3 Disclaimer: The data in this report reflects numbers from December 2023. When speaking about Europe, the data does not include the United Kingdom. +

19% 119 others industries

How We Celebrated a Decade of Impact and Growth in 2023

2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the European B Corp movement. On this occasion, B Lab Europe gathered over a thousand members and friends of the movement at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam for an unforgettable celebration. Since 2013, B Lab Europe and its local teams have been building a community of businesses across Europe around the common understanding of interdependence.

Celebrating 10 years of the B Corp movement in Europe, Photo by Leandro Bistolfi
Voices from the European B Corp community,
Video Editing by Miles Rouse

How We Fostered Interconnectedness in 2023

While our local teams are growing and supporting B Corps in their respective countries, B Lab Europe plays an enabling role, uniting local B Corp communities into one connected and interdependent European community.

In 2023, we launched B Community – our brandnew community engagement platform connecting B Corps from all across Europe and facilitating meaningful collaboration across borders.

Together with the over 8,000 B Corps worldwide, we broadcasted the annual global B Corp Month campaign, reaching more than 60 million people. Under the theme We Go Beyond, we raised awareness for what it means to be a B Corp in Europe and go beyond business as usual.

B Lab Europe also introduced the Path to B – a free, educational online course for the over 170,000 B Corp employees in Europe and anyone interested in learning more about using business as a force for good, B Corp Certification, and the benefits of becoming a Certified B Corp.

In 2023, B Lab Europe continued to support collective action and collaboration between B Corps and initiatives aiming at large-scale changes across entire industries, such as the B Corp Beauty Coalition – a union of B Corps committed to raising the beauty industry’s standards.

Why it Pays off to Be a B Corp

B Corp Certification contributes to business success: European B Corps say their certification:

• allows them to communicate their mission more effectively externally (73%),

• increases transparency and accountability across the business (69%),

• and provides improved visibility of opportunities for growth and risk management via the B Impact Assessment (60%)4

+ How to Become a B Corp

Awareness for B Corps is higher among younger generations: On average, 1 in 7 people in Europe have heard of the B Corp movement. Gen Z and Millennials have the highest awareness, with over 25% having heard of B Corp.5

Consumers demand better business: 69% of those knowing the B Corp Certification in Europe say it positively affected their purchasing decisions, either actively looking for them or using it to decide between products/ services.6

3.2 Beyond B Corp: Empowering Businesses in Europe to Measure Their Impact

A recent study among over 11,000 participants from various part s of Europe revealed that Europeans want all businesses to behave more like B Corps. 90% of the respondents believe company directors should be accountable for their business’ social and environmental performance. Additionally, 87% of those think tha t it should be mandatory for all businesses to consider the interest of all stakeholders – including people and the planet.

To drive economic system change, companies need comprehensive, credible, and comparable social and environmental standards.

Where to start?

The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is a free, confidential platform used by over 72,000 users in Europe. It helps companies measure and manage their positive impact on workers, communities, customers, and the environment. Achieving a minimum verified score of 80 points on the BIA is the first step towards B Corp Certification. Learn more about B Impact Assessment

Need help certifying?

The B Corp Way connects companies with certified B Corp consultants across Europe, providing tailored support based on B Corp methodology. This program primarily targets large and multinational companies aiming to enhance their impact but is open to various organizations, including Certified B Corps.

Learn more about B Corp Way

B Leaders is a training program designed to empower individuals to guide organizations through B Corp Certification and help businesses measure what matters. These leaders, from diverse industries and countries in Europe, possess deep knowledge of the B Corp framework for assessing a business’s impact on all stakeholders.

Find out more about B Leaders

B Movement Builders (BMB) is a coalition of leading multinational companies dedicated to using business as a force for good and creating long-term value for all stakeholders. These companies embody the B Corp movement’s principles through their actions. In 2023, B Lab collaborated with Danone, Natura &Co, Bonduelle, and Gerdau to emphasize the importance of governance –’G’ in ESG– in achieving our shared goals. Embedding purpose into legal statutes and redefining business success metrics are core to B Lab and the B Corp movement’s advocacy efforts.

Find out more about BMB

3.3 Setting High Standards for Businesses in Europe

3.3.1 Through B Lab’s Evolving Standards

B Lab’s social and environmental business standards define how businesses can be a force for good. Based on stakeholder input, research, and established best practices, these standards are t he foundation for B Corp Certification requirements and B Lab’s impact management tools.

We began the extensive process of evolving the standards for B Corp Certification in 2020 to continue to differentiate leading busi nesses and help all companies improve their impact. Given the urgency associated with rethinking the current economic system, the new standards should support businesses in accelerating their impact on the key issues facing people and the planet today.

In September 2022, we shared the first draft of the new standard s for B Corp Certification in a preliminary public consultation, with over 1,000+ respondents providing feedback , who affirmed that the new standards are ambitious yet attainable. Since then , these standards have been further developed, addressing prevale nt feedback, with a second consultation launching in January 2024 through March 2024. The draft standards have departed from the current framework where companies have flexibility in how to ach ieve a verified 80-point score, and instead meet specific requirements a cross the standards’ Impact Topics.

+ In 2023, B Lab’s Standards Management team released a content series exploring the Impact Topics that formed the foundations of the second consultation.

Purpose & Stakeholder Governance

Human Rights

Climate Action Fair Wages

Environmental Stewardship & Circularity

Workplace Culture

Government Affairs & Collective Action

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Find the latest update about our evolving standards for B Corp Certification here

3.3.2 Through Advocating For Mandatory Legislation

While B Lab’s rigorous standards serve as a benchmark for Certified B Corps and businesses using the free B Impact Assessment, there is a need for large-scale structural changes embedded in legislation that hold all businesses accountable. In 2023, B Lab Europe advocated for businesses acting with purpose, accountability, and transparency. We emphasized considering stakeholders in decision-making and committing to transparency by measuring, managing, and reporting impacts.

Our advocacy focused on several key Green Deal legislative proposals:

• Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD): This directive ensures businesses address adverse impacts in their value chains globally. In February 2023, the Interdependence Coalition presented the member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission with our petition with over 570 supporters to “Save Article 25” in the CSDDD. The article was indeed approved by the European Parliament in mid-2023 but finally fell in the negotiations with member states.

• Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

Aimed at making sustainability profiles of funds more comparable and encouraging investment in sustainable products, SFDR targets investors and financial market participants. B Lab Europe engaged with various stakeholders, submitted a consultation response, and published a position paper We advocated for including indicators of stakeholder governance, such as directors’ oversight on sustainability matters and integration of stakeholder expectations in strategic decision-making.

• Corporate Sustainability

Reporting Directive (CSRD): Targeting large EU and significant non-EU companies, the CSRD expands non-financial reporting to around 50,000 entities. B Lab Europe submitted two consultation responses, sent a letter to the Commission, and formed the CSRD Coalition with partners like Impact Economy Foundation, Impact Institute, and True Price. We urged for more ambitious sustainability reporting standards to enhance EU transparency and accountability.

• ESG Ratings Regulation:

Aiming to improve the reliability and comparability of ESG ratings. B Lab Europe published a position paper on doublemateriality , advocating for broader transparency beyond sustainability-related financial risks. Learn more about our advocacy work

About Our Organization 4

4.1 B Lab Europe’s Team

Founded in 2013 and based in Amsterdam, B Lab Europe operates across four key departments: Certification & Standards, Markets Development, Communications & Community Impact, and Operations. By the end of 2023, our diverse team comprised 26 dedicated fulltime employees and one trainee, representing 19 nationalities.

B Lab Europe’s commitment toward employee empowerment and wellbeing is reflected in the results of our 2024 engagement survey, with an encouraging 91% of respondents acknowledging B Lab as a supportive environment for personal and professional growth. Additionally, 95% of participants would recommend B Lab as a workplace. Importantly, each team member understands how their role contributes to our collective mission, fostering a culture of belonging and collaboration.

B Lab Europe, together with B Lab Benelux, has utilized the B Impact Assessment framework to refine our common policies and practices, highlighting our ongoing commitment to continuous learning and improvement in support of our team. In 2023, we implemented several key improvements, including new policies for breastfeeding mothers, limiting corporate travel, adjusting salaries to match the country’s inflation rate, and introducing an ergonomic policy.

A few examples of our extensive benefits package at B Lab Europe:

• 2 Life Days per year to recognize the significance of life events

• Giving Back team volunteering initiative on Earth Day every year

• 40 hours of extra leave per year for individual volunteering

• Working from Anywhere for up to 12 weeks

• Four-Day Workweek

• Extra Travel Leave to promote sustainable travel – via land instead of air

• B Lab Exchange to a different B Lab team office

• Professional Development budget to support personal and professional growth

• Health & Wellbeing Allowance that can be used for physical exercise offers and mental health support

• Flexible Public Holidays to enable employees to celebrate public holidays according to individual preferences and cultural observances

“The Market Development team is responsible for overseeing the development of European markets. The team determines the expansion strategy for new Country Partners markets; is responsible for business development and the user journey in emerging B Corp markets; and collaborates across teams to support and monitor network performance and market progression.”

“Our Communications & Community Impact team broadcasts our vision of changing the economic system by using business as a force for good. We raise awareness for the growing B Corp movement in Europe and facilitate the development of communities of change in the region. We aim to create value and catalyze engagement across the European B Corp community, fostering a community-driven approach to evolve and uphold the B Corp Certification and standards. On a broader level, we also advocate for stakeholder governance and European legislation that promotes positive impact, transparency, and accountability of companies.”

“The Certification & Standards Department is responsible for the adoption of B Lab’s standards and the delivery of B Corp Certification services in Europe. Our efforts focus on facilitating both SME and multinational pathways to ensure a seamless certification experience. We coordinate with our local teams across Europe to grow the B Corp community in this region and also work closely with B Lab’s Global Network to facilitate European stakeholder input in the Evolving Standards process.”

Faryaal Zaman

Certification Lead - Standards

Certification & Standards Department

“The Operations department supports the overall mission and impact of B Lab Europe across its network to ensure legal compliance, effective governance, strategic execution, employee wellbeing, innovation through technology, and robust financial management.”

4.2 B Lab Europe’s Board of Directors

B Lab Europe is registered as a “Stichting” or Foundation under Dutch law. It has two boards, a Supervisory board with responsibility for strategy, CEO appointment, and financial matters, and a Management Board that oversees the execution of the strategy

Zoe Burgess Corporate Development Manager at COFRA Supervisory Board

Paolo Braguzzi Business Activist and Former CEO of Davines Supervisory Board

Tom Cummings

Founder Leading Ventures Chair of the Supervisory Board

Juliette Caulkins

Managing Director & Global Leadership Team (GLT) Voting Member Management Board

James Perry

Co-Founder B Lab UK, Chairman COOK Supervisory Board

Sandra Castañeda-Elena Sustainability & ESG Strategist Supervisory Board

Leen Zevenbergen Co-Founder B Lab Europe, Chairman Bolesian Supervisory Board

Claire Pace Director of Operations Management Board

€1,811,604.10

Renewal certification income

New certification income

Pending certification income

LE/MNC processes

B Movement Builders program

Submission fee

Other income

Country partner fees

CoGS (verification/recertification)

Personnel costs

MNC CoGS

General costs

Marketing costs

Indirect personnel costs

Policy costs

Housing costs D&A costs

Miscellaneous costs

Looking Ahead 5

As we look to 2024, B Lab Europe remains committed to our vision of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy in Europe, and worldwide. We will continue to evolve and adapt our work based on valuable stakeholder feedback, the rapidly changing business and political landscape, and the urgency of the social and environmental crises we are experiencing.

In 2024, B Lab Europe will focus on:

Connecting and Growing the B Corp Community Across Europe

Together with our local B Lab teams, we will continue to engage and connect communities across borders to collectively pave the way for a European impact economy. Our business development efforts will focus on inclusivity: sharing the B Corp movement’s principles of stakeholder governance, impact management, and interdependence with new and more diverse audiences, expanding into new markets, and inspiring a wide array of businesses to join our community. B Lab Europe’s Markets Development team is poised to turn 2023’s momentum into tangible progress. Our exchanges in 2023 reassured us of the incredible potential within emerging B Corp markets. The enthusiasm we've seen strengthens our confidence in the movement's future, and we eagerly anticipate sharing the developments 2024 will bring. Keep up to date with B Lab’s activities in emerging B Corp markets.

Evolving B Lab’s Standards

In 2024, we will continue to raise the bar for businesses across Europe by evolving our standards for B Corp Certification. Listening to valuable stakeholder feedback to ensure B Lab’s new standards are attainable yet rigorous and fit for purpose remains at the center of our efforts. After a second consultation taking place from January to March, we are committed to sharing the final content of our new standards by the end of 2024. This is a major shift, and B Lab is managing complex internal dependencies combined with a shifting external landscape, such as new Directives from the European Union (EU) on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition and Green Claims. Our top priority is upskilling the European B Corp community to support them in meeting B Lab’s new standards.

Keep up to date with B Lab’s evolving standards

Building our Influence through Advocacy

Initiatives and Partnerships

B Lab Europe will continue to build its position as a trusted voice in the EU legislative sphere, contributing to consultations, building partnerships, and supporting panEuropean campaigns and initiatives in a transformative systemic shift towards stakeholder governance, transparency, and accountability of companies. In early 2024, we joined Business for Better Tomorrow, a coalition of 15 impact business networks across Europe, ensuring that entrepreneurs committed to environmental and social transition have a voice, and we continue to develop that partnership. We also continue to support local advocacy initiatives across the European network, including legal requirements and stakeholder governance campaigns. In April, the European Parliament gave its final approval to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which we welcome. Ahead of the European Parliamentary Elections, B Lab Europe co-led the 906 campaign with Civocracy, Earth4All, and GOPA.com, aiming to unite businesses to increase awareness and turnout.

Keep up to date with our advocacy efforts in Europe

Advancing Interdependence, Resilience, and Employee Wellbeing

Finally, we will continue to focus on leading a unified and inclusive network of B Lab teams across Europe, forming a solid foundation that will empower us to scale with credibility in the next pivotal chapter of the B Corp movement in Europe. To further advance employee wellbeing, B Lab Europe, together with B Lab Benelux, will rethink ways of working and engage in a six-month trial of the fourday workweek starting in June 2024. This pioneering initiative, grounded in research and piloted by diverse businesses from our B Corp community, reflects our vision to transform the culture of capitalism and enhance the worklife balance for our teams, making our organization more resilient in the face of the social and environmental challenges we are addressing.

Learn how B Lab Europe is rethinking employee wellbeing

Acknowledgments

This report is the second Annual Report for B Lab Europe to publish. We thank all contributors, including the entire B Lab Europe team and all local Country Partner teams, for their meaningful collaboration and dedication to transparent reporting.

Report Lead

Gudrun Drexler

Contributors

Filip Smrekar Apih

Julia Wolska

Lucia Baruzzi

Chris Verrijdt

Veronika Antalová

Carlota de Paula Coelho

Sarah Garcia

Jurre Immerzeel

Malin Lorge

Faryaal Zaman

Ronit Rosenberg

Mhairi Letcher

Juliette Caulkins and our local B Lab teams

Design and Illustrations

Miguel Carvalho

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.