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B Impact Assessment as a Sustainable Tool: Analysis of the Certification Model

doi: 10.3390/su14095590
handle: 10400.22/25146 , 10400.22/20515
Currently, certification is an essential tool for a company’s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly of the United Nations, namely: environment, community, workers, customers, and governance. Nevertheless, it is essential that academic research should empirically assess the B Corp model’s reliability for its validation and legitimization. In this study, we address the results of the B Impact Assessment of 2262 companies certified by B Corp from the beginning of 2017 to March 2021. The main objective is to analyze the B Impact Assessment, verifying the robustness and consistency of the model to measure and improve the economic, social, and environmental impact of companies. We analyzed the construct’s validity through a confirmatory factorial analysis using AMOS statistical software. The results allowed us to identify some weaknesses and limitations of the B Impact Assessment. This certification system reflects an unadjusted model where the main assessment indicators have problems with regard to the measurement scale. The governance and customer indicators are the most vulnerable. The findings also allow us to state that there are apparently no minimum values established for each of the parameters evaluated, which may cause imbalances in the sustainable development process of B Corp companies. This research contributes to enhancing B Impact Assessment as a sustainability tool, highlighting areas for improvement concerning the indicators’ measurement scales and the assessment process, including the monitoring of evaluators.
- Instituto Politécnico do Porto Centro de Inovação e Investigação em Ciências Empresariais e Sistemas de Informação
- Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave Portugal
- Instituto Politécnico do Porto Centro de Inovação e Investigação em Ciências Empresariais e Sistemas de Informação
- Polytechnic Institute of Porto Portugal
- Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), B Impact Assessment; certified B Corp; sustainability; confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), certified B Corp, TJ807-830, TD194-195, Renewable energy sources, B Impact Assessment, GE1-350, Environmental effects of industries and plants, confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), sustainability, Environmental sciences, Sustainability, B impact assessment, Certified B Corp
Confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), B Impact Assessment; certified B Corp; sustainability; confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), certified B Corp, TJ807-830, TD194-195, Renewable energy sources, B Impact Assessment, GE1-350, Environmental effects of industries and plants, confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), sustainability, Environmental sciences, Sustainability, B impact assessment, Certified B Corp
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).9 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Average impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10% visibility views 16 download downloads 49 - 16views49downloads
Data source Views Downloads Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico do Porto 16 49


