SKOOT is a B-Corp certified company, and this month we’re raising awareness for the importance of having a B-Corp certification.
The B-Corp movement is about creating sustainable economic and social change by redefining success as more than just maximizing profits at all costs. As a business that cares about our community, SKOOT believes in being socially responsible and doing what we can to make our world better for future generations.
Being a B-corp Certified business means that we have met the highest standard of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Currently, there are over 4,000 certified B-Corps in 77 different countries. We’re proud to be part of this movement! Here are some reasons why you should join us during B-Corp month!
What’s so important about being a B-Corp
The first thing you should know about being a B-Corporation is that it’s not an easy process. It can take between six and twelve months to obtain certification, and there are strict requirements. In order to become a B-Corp, you have to meet the following standards:
- Balance of profit and purpose
- Transparency regarding supply chains, ingredients, and labor
- Hiring practices
- Sustainability and environmental impact
- Legal accountability
These standards ensure that businesses around the world are contributing to sustainable economic growth rather than just shareholder profits. We know we want to work with B-Lab to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. Being B-Corp approved means a lot to SKOOT, and here's what one of our Co-Founders Mark Stringer had to say about it:
"The B-Corp community is something that we're incredibly proud to be part of. There are only 600 accredited companies in the UK, but our voices are loud and are committed to the planet, our staff and our shareholders are at the heart of what we are as a business. We're looking forward to connecting with more businesses and working together to help each other."
B-Corp Month
SKOOT is shouting loud and proud about the fact that this is the first month that SKOOT is getting behind the B for B-Corp month! This month we are supporting B Lab and creating awareness about why other businesses should become B-Corp Certified.
We believe in taking responsibility for the carbon you produce in your lifetime. Our planet needs us and it needs preventative steps put in place sooner rather than later. SKOOT, alongside other B-Corp Certified businesses will be working hard to create a more sustainable future.
To do this, we have to go beyond the minimum requirements of laws or regulations. We have a strong stance when it comes to reducing and avoiding unwanted carbon. We want to follow B-Corp’s sustainable guidelines so we can be transparent about how sustainable SKOOT is.
As a company, we’re proud to be part of this change-making movement. B-Corporation business have been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. As a company, you are rated out of 200 across different factors, and then your score gets combined. We need more businesses to become B-Corp approved so we can all be held accountable when we’re not following ethical business practices, or practices in general.
How SKOOT became B-Corp approved
To attain our B-Corp certification, SKOOT underwent a rigorous application process. We were required to disclose all of our social and environmental impacts to a third party company called B Lab. After the review, they determined our impact level. We want to make sure we our partnered with businesses who share these common values.
Why you should become B-Corp
There are many different benefits to becoming a certified B-Corp company, and we want to share some of them with you. As a business that cares about our community, SKOOT believes in being socially responsible and doing what we can to make our world better for future generations. To do this, we go beyond the minimum requirements of laws or regulations. We take a full scale approach to sustainability, with goals like balancing profit with purpose and using innovation to create greater impact and positive change.
Certifying your company as a B-Corp can bring the following benefits:
- Improving impact through participation in working groups, sharing best practice and ongoing use of the BIA and SDG Action Manager.
- Collaborating with other B-Corps, joining B Locals around the UK and working together to find solutions to specific challenges.
- Networking and attending community events.
- Alignment with B Lab and the B-Corp Community on global issues.
- Engaging employees in the company’s purpose and mission and attracting and retaining talent.
- Articulating the company’s mission externally – to investors, clients, customers and suppliers.
Not only does B-Corp hold you accountable for your actions, but they also conduct studies of the other benefits of why you should become B-corp approved.
Recent research shows that B-Corps out-perform their UK peers across several business standards. Compared to data from surveys of UK SMEs, we found that B-Corp SMEs have, on average:
- Faster growth in turnover and employee headcount and higher expectations about future growth.
- Greater levels of employee retention, engagement and diversity.
- More robust governance processes.
- Greater focus on civic and community engagement.
- Higher levels of innovation.
- The same likelihood of success at securing external finance.
B-Corp Month is a time to celebrate ethical companies and those who are working together to create change. As a Certified B-Corporation, SKOOT is committed to using business as a force for good and a force for change.
