B Lab Publishes New Global Whitepaper: The Climate & Environmental Practices of B Corps

On our current trajectory, the planet’s global temperature is expected to increase by 3.3°C (5.9°F) by 2100, causing irreversible consequences to our natural and human systems. 

Businesses play a significant part in the climate crisis, as major contributors to pollution and consumers of natural resources. But they are also uniquely positioned to drive innovations and solutions. B Corps are proof that meaningful social, environmental, and governance practices can be adopted while continuing to act as a for-profit company.

In this new whitepaper created by the B Lab Global Insights Team, we explore the breadth and depth of these practices, and crucially, the tangible climate impact we could achieve if more businesses follow their lead in adopting environmental and climate practices. 

The report looks at the performance of B Corps under our current standards (V1.6) across three key areas: circularity, environmental stewardship, and climate action. It then explores the potential impact of the community as we transition onto the new standards (V2.1), when all B Corps will need to meet minimum requirements across these areas.

Discover our top 5 findings here. 

1. B Corps are taking the lead in adopting practices across the three interlinked topics: circularity, environmental stewardship, and climate action. That does not mean B Corps are “there yet” in acting within planetary boundaries; we have identified areas for growth and continuous improvement that will be supported by the introduction of the new B Lab Standards, V2.1 

2. B Corps adopt a much broader range of environmental and climate practices. Companies that adopt more practices tend to achieve significantly better outcomes in reducing both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use. This suggests that depth and breadth of environmental action, not just isolated efforts, are key to driving impact. 

3. Monitoring and reporting GHG emissions is one of the most impactful practices a company can implement. This can enable the reduction of a company’s overall emissions, and highlights the importance of measurement and transparency in driving meaningful climate action. 

4. Adopting science-based targets is an effective practice for reducing GHG emissions.  Science-based targets are an important practice with global recognition, and adopting them is effective in reducing GHG emissions. 

5. If all businesses adopted impact management practices at the rate B Corps currently do, we would decrease our global temperature by .5°C (.8°F) by 2100—a significant contribution to the Paris Agreement. Using En-ROADS, we can project that if all businesses adopted these practices at the rate B Corps do, they would also prevent 600,000 global deaths from extreme heat by 2100, and lower the extinction risk for about 4% of endemic land species and 2% of endemic marine species, compared to the baseline scenario.

The report also highlights case studies exploring how pioneering B Corps are leading the way in climate and environmental practices. Get a sneak peek on the B Corps featured below.  

• Notpla, winner of the Earthshot Prize, tackles plastic waste with seaweed-based products 

• The biopharmaceutical Chiesi Group is developing carbon minimal inhalers with no compromise on safety, usability, or efficacy for patients

• Yerba Madre transforms yerba mate production through regenerative agriculture in South America

• In fashion, EILEEN FISHER's Renew program has taken back nearly three million pieces since 2009

• United Repair Centre is pioneering repair at scale, working with global fashion brands to make repair central to their business models

• Circ is building a $500 million textile recycling plant in France, the first at an industrial scale

Dive into the data and explore our interactive whitepaper now.