WHAT IS B CORP?

First off, B Corps are just super cool. B Corp stands for ‘Benefit Corporation’. This is an innovative, modified legal corporation model available here in Canada, the US and around the world. As consumers, this is important for us to know becasue it enhances corporate responsibility to allow for greater focus on broader business success, beyond just shareholder and investor financial return.

“Canadian B Corps are companies that are leading the charge in using business as a force for good in this country.

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.” - B Lab

It’s not just BIG global names like Patagonia who are B Corps… Local businesses right here in Alberta like Edmonton’s Chandos Construction, Earth Group, and Poppy Barley, and Calgary’s Fiasco Gelato and Trico Homes have all become Certified B Corps.

Can you set up your existing, or new start-up, as a B Corp? Yes, you absolutely can. B Lab and local partners here in Alberta like BDC can help you make that happen.

WHat is B Lab?

B Lab is the not-for-profit org, the creators and engine behind making B Corp ‘a thing’. They run all the back-end administration of the B Corp Management programs and software, and do all of the front-line advocacy work to make B Corporations possible.

“B Lab pursues this goal by verifying credible leaders in the business community, creating supportive infrastructure and incentives for others to follow their lead, and engaging the major institutions with the power to transform our economy.” - B Lab

B Corp is headquartered in the US, in Pennsylvania, with main offices in Colorado, Oakland and New York, but they have great local partnerships around the world, including here in Edmonton, through BDC. These partnerships have provided the local expertise, support and confidence needed for nearly 2000 B Corps in over 50 countries around the world, and counting...

BDC will help you become a B Corp!

The Business Development Bank of Canada, is a B Corp, and offers B Corp expertise right here in Edmonton.

They have a local Edmonton team, ready to help you through the B Corp Certification step-by-step process, enabling you to assess your current status, compare to peer orgs, and build a tangible plan to continually improve. If you’re a local business owner, we hope you’ll consider becoming one.