The B Corp Handbook: How You Can Use Business as a Force for Good

by Ryan Honeyman, Tiffany Jana

B Corps are a global movement of more than 2,700 companies in 60 countries-like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Kickstarter, Danone North America, and Eileen Fisher-that are using the power of business as a force for good. B Corps have been certified to have met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. This book is the authoritative guide to the what, why, and how of B Corp certification. Coauthors Ryan Honeyman and Dr. Tiffany Jana spoke with the leaders of over 200 B Corps from around the world to get their insights on becoming a Certified B Corp, improving their social and environmental performance, and building a more inclusive economy. The second edition has been completely revised and updated to include a much stronger focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These changes are important because DEI can no longer be a side conversation-it must be a core value for any company that aspires to make money and make a difference. While this book is framed around the B Corp movement, any company, regardless of size, industry, or location, can use the tools contained here to learn how to build a better business. As the authors vividly demonstrate, using business as a force for good can help you attract and retain the best talent, distinguish your company in a crowded market, and increase trust in your brand.

512 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2019

Reviews

[Nicolas Malmendier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The B Corp Handbook is useful for those who want to get familiar with the concept as well as for the ones who want to implement it in their own context. As I regularly come across the B Corp movement in my professional life, I already knew what the movement was about. However, while the benefits of being a Benefit Corporation are self-evident to me, they usually are not to business professionals that are used to only taking financial aspects into account. And this is where, for me, the book offered the most value: The authors always highlighted which benefits embarking on the B Corp journey has for society and business. Now, I have a list of strong arguments to convince different stakeholders of the movement.

I also appreciated that this second edition included a strong focus on DEI and acknowledged that it needs to be embedded in everything a B Corp is doing. However, at times, I found Dr. Jana's tips quite repetitive. Even though I understand that these tips were meant to demonstrate the cross-cutting nature of DEI, they were also often predictable and therefore not necessary.

[Rodolfo Perez Caste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it as an overview, however, and even though is not that long feels like it drags a lot, a good read to get to know which are the good practices rewarded by the B corp certification and the justification for each one of them.

[Manu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine survey in B Corp requirements. Heavy on DEI.