Global B Corp Summit convenes good business in Amsterdam
The B Corp movement has grown to include 2490 companies from over 60 countries, all committed to using business as a force for good.
Amsterdam 1 May 2018
From 19th to 21st of June, the B Corp community will host their annual Summit in Amsterdam, attracting B Corps from around the world. The annual Summit is open to Certified B Corps and aspiring new business members. On the 21st of June, part of the Summit will be open to the public. Some of the most recognizable names of businesses committed to impact and the B Corp movement will be joining the Amsterdam event, including Patagonia, Danone, Triodos Bank, Ecover/Method, Tony's Chocolonely, Fairphone, Wessanen. These companies as well as others from across Europe and the globe will come together to invest in a B economy: an inclusive and sustainable future where business balances purpose and profit.
B Corps
B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. B Corp is to business what Fair Trade is to coffee: B Corps work with long-term orientation to build better value chains, commit to continuous improvement to business practices, create better places to work and build consumer trust. They measure their impact and practice transparency. This makes B Corps more attractive to investors and helps consumers navigate the market. As a result, B Corps are demonstrating that impact is leading to scalability, profitability and positive change.
“The B Corp movement is one of the most important of our lifetime, built on the simple fact that business impacts and serves more than just shareholders—it has an equal responsibility to the community and to the planet” says Rose Marcario, CEO of Patagonia.
Program:
Summit topics include:
- Sustainable value chains
- Business collaboration and interdependence
- Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into your business
- Circular economy as a competitive advantage
- Balancing scalability and staying true to your purpose
Confirmed speakers include:
20th June: Kate Raworth, author of ‘Doughnut Economics’ and Christophe Barnouin, CEO of Wessanen
21st June: Bernice Notenboom, renowned Arctic traveler and climate journalist, Chris Mann, CEO of Guayaki, Kresse Wesling, Co-Founder of Elvis en Kresse
Location:
The event will be hosted in the KIT, Royal Tropical Institute.
Participants can experience part of the program at B Corp offices around Amsterdam, including Fairphone, Tony’s Chocolonely, Plastic Whale and Patagonia. For more detail, see the Summit Program
Overall this community employs 145,000 people and earns collectively over 50 billion in turnover annually. 20% of this movement is made up of companies from across Europe. Representing 458 companies, these B Corps collectively earn over 6 billion in turnover and employ nearly 13,000 people.
About B Corp
Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good™. They meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. There are 2,490 Certified B Corporations in over 130 industries and 60 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business.
About B Lab
B Lab is a non-profit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day, all companies will compete to be best for the world and that society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. B Lab drives this systemic change by: (1) building a global community of Certified B Corporations; (2) promoting Mission Alignment using innovative corporate structures like the benefit corporation to align the interests of business with those of society; (3) helping tens of thousands of businesses, investors and institutions Measure What Matters, by using the B Impact Assessment and B Analytics to manage their impact — and the impact of the businesses with which they work — with as much rigor as their profits; and (4) inspiring millions to join the movement through compelling storytelling.
