The 'B' in B Corp certification stands for Benefit. Previously, when evaluating corporate value, we focused primarily on direct Profit. However, perspectives have shifted. A company's sustainability cannot be evaluated by Profit alone. Founded in 2006, the U.S. non-profit organization 'B Lab' introduced comprehensive Benefit—including indirect social impact—as a corporate evaluation standard and grants 'B Corp Certification' based on this assessment.
[B Corp Certified Logo ⓒB-Lab]
A company's social and environmental performance—the baseline for B Corp certification—is evaluated using B Lab's corporate evaluation framework, the 'B Impact Assessment (BIA)'. Companies scoring 80 points or higher (out of 200) on social and environmental performance, alongside assessments of corporate transparency and legal accountability, are certified and listed as B Corps, renewing their certification every three years.
Since the first certification in 2007, the number of B Corp certified companies has grown to over 7,700 across 92 countries as of late 2023. In South Korea, around 30 companies—including Tree Planet, Continew, and Melixir—are B Corp certified. In Korea, guidance and verification for B Corp certification are managed by 'B Lab Korea', and any for-profit company operating for over a year can apply for the B Impact Assessment.