The world changes when people decide to do things to make it change. There is no need to stop reading this article and take to the streets with cloak and sword ready to turn the world upside down. Sometimes it is as simple as buying our usual products from those companies that are taking steps to transform the world into a little better place. Or count on the services of companies that apply inclusion and equality criteria in their workforce, that promote sustainability in their production plants or that have a social ethics program in their activities.
That is the objective of the B Corp movement, an international community of people that already unites more than 8,500 companies present in 97 countries. All of them, with a common denominator: they are willing to build a more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy. A new economic model where generating profits does not exclude taking care of the planet and its inhabitants. That change is not only not impossible. It's already happening. And this is precisely what the B Corp movement in Spain seeks to claim with the launch of its new campaign Se Escribe Con B, which coincides with World Earth Day, celebrated on April 22.
We Europeans lose sleep over, among other issues, climate change and economic insecurity. Also, inequalities, the lack of local employment and the destruction of the industrial fabric on European soil. Changing these big issues individually is almost unapproachable, but progress can be made if we act collectively. That is why more and more companies and other organizations are directing their strategy and activity to generate a positive impact on the world.
Among these companies, B Corp companies stand out. And the good news is that many of them are also born on this side of the Pyrenees. Some have a long history. Others are newcomers and add the momentum of a new generation of business leaders committed to society and the environment.
This is how we find B Corp companies in the food sector, such as Estrella Galicia, Central Lechera Asturiana, YOSOY, or Biogran; in fashion, to Trendsplant, BUFF, Twothirds or Tropicfeel; and in personal care or pharmaceutical products, to Isdin, Rituals, Ferrer, Mustela or The Beemine Lab. But B Corp companies are also present in the consulting sector, such as Galaica Consultores, Quiero and Apple Tree; imagin, in the bank; LC Paper, in the paper industry; Altafonte, in the music sector or Artiem, in the hospitality industry, among many others.
Unlike companies that only pursue economic goals, these companies meet high standards of social and environmental impact, public transparency and legal responsibility. In addition, they are legally required to take into account, when making decisions, their workers, clients, suppliers, community and the environment.
As a result, in environmental matters, 50% of B Corps use a majority of renewable energy and 72% carry out water conservation practices. Likewise, in the social field, 50% of these companies have a majority of female managers and 55% proactively hire people from vulnerable groups. But the best of all is that doing business differently is not only possible, but it is not at odds with profitability: these companies improve their annual economic results by an average of 31% and their workforces grow by an average of 32% per year. .
We tend to think that as isolated citizens we can do little. Nothing is further from reality. In addition to being individuals, we are consumers and we can choose which companies we place our trust in every time we buy a good or hire a service. Without forgetting that many of the members of our society are also decision makers and great speakers who can directly influence our society and economy.
To energize this unstoppable transformative power of people, the B Corp movement in Spain launches its second citizen awareness campaign Se Escribe Con B. Its objective? Make people reflect on the way we produce and consume and demonstrate that another way of doing things is possible. To do this, it has the support of the more than 250 B Corp companies in Spain, which, in turn, will launch support actions through their social networks, their stores, offices and involving their more than 23,000 employees. workers.
More than 25 activists and opinion leaders in multiple fields will join this wave, who will share their testimony and call citizens to action. In the world of art, the artist Monstruo Espagueti and the illustrator 72Kilos stand out; in the sports field, the renowned athlete Kilian Jornet; From social activism, figures such as Laura Baena, president of the Yo No Renuncio Association, or the actress Andrea Ros will join; and, finally, in the field of environmental defense, activists Nacho Dean, Olivia Mandle, Blondiemuser, Mundo Sin Residuos and chef Fabián León, among others, will also participate.
Far from being mere spectators, citizens are also called to actively participate in this campaign. From May 13 to May 31, you will be able to share your own “stories written with B” on SeEscribeConB.es: personal stories, initiatives, projects or small daily actions that contribute to improving the world. The three most voted videos until June 15 will receive a set of products and experiences from B Corp companies, and many other surprises, in recognition of their contribution. This is how this movement shows that change starts from the smallest and that the desire of many, no matter how insignificant it may seem, ends up moving mountains.
But, if there is one thing clear to the B Corp movement, it is that transforming the economy does not only depend on the commitment of companies and citizens. It also requires laws that promote this new business and consumption model, as well as mechanisms that guarantee that the social and environmental contribution of companies is truthful.
Along these lines, last year the European Commission announced its intention to address a new Directive on environmental claims to stop greenwashing, eco-posturing and misleading environmental information. The European executive body recognized that the lack of common regulation makes 53.3% of the environmental declarations that accompany many European products vague, misleading or unfounded. Something similar happens with certain 'fair trade' statements that clash with other factors such as the lack of 'diversity' in the workforce.
This situation clouds fair competition between companies and makes it difficult for citizens to know who is on the side of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and which companies do not go beyond image marketing. From the B Corp movement they share the commitment of Brussels. In fact, the high social and environmental standards that all B Corp companies meet ensure that they have a verified positive impact that is published in the B Corp Company Directory, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement.
But it is necessary to go further. For this reason, already in 2020, the B Corp movement launched the “Companies with Purpose” initiative, which called for a law to identify companies that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet, and not just economic profit. Thanks to the support of more than 400 organizations and 30,000 signatories on Change.org, in 2022 the legal figure of Common Benefit and Interest Companies (SBIC) was approved, known as the Purpose Driven Companies Law. However, to ensure that this measure does not fall on deaf ears, it is now essential to take the next step, as crucial as the first: approve the regulation that gives legal certainty to this type of companies.
