Customer Story: Coeur Catering
Ghent-based Coeur Catering is the first caterer in Belgium to achieve B Corp Certification. But what exactly does this certification mean, and what can your company learn from their journey? Download the Coeur Catering story here.
Frequently Asked Questions About B Corp Certification
A B Corp (Certified B Corporation) is a company that meets high standards for social impact, environmental impact, transparency, and responsible governance. B Corps are independently assessed by B Lab and demonstrate that profit and positive impact can go hand in hand.
How do you become a B Corp?
To become a B Corp, an organisation goes through a comprehensive certification process in which its impact on employees, customers, suppliers, communities, the environment, and governance is assessed. Under B Lab’s latest standards, companies must demonstrate that they meet mandatory requirements across all impact areas.
What has changed in the new B Corp Standards?
The biggest change is that companies can no longer compensate for weaker performance in one impact area with stronger performance in another. Whereas previously achieving a sufficient overall score was enough, organisations must now meet minimum requirements across all seven impact topics. There is also a stronger emphasis on climate action, stakeholder governance, human rights, fair work, and transparency.
Which impact topics does B Lab assess?
The latest B Corp Standards focus on:
1. Purpose & Stakeholder Governance
2. Climate Action
3. Human Rights
4. Fair Work
5. Environmental Stewardship & Circularity
6. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
7. Government Affairs & Collective Action
Companies must demonstrate that they are taking concrete action in every impact area.
Is B Corp relevant for SMEs?
Ja. B Corp is niet enkel voor grote ondernemingen. Steeds meer KMO’s gebruiken het B Corp-framework om hun duurzaamheidsstrategie te structureren, ESG-doelstellingen concreet te maken en zich te onderscheiden bij klanten, medewerkers en investeerders.
Wat is het verschil tussen ESG en B Corp?
Yes. B Corp is not just for large companies. More and more SMEs use the B Corp framework to structure their sustainability strategy, turn ESG objectives into concrete actions, and differentiate themselves among customers, employees, and investors.
Is B Corp useful for CSRD and VSME?
Yes. Although B Corp is not a substitute for CSRD or VSME, there is significant overlap between the frameworks. Governance, climate impact, employee policies, human rights, and stakeholder engagement are key elements of both B Corp and European sustainability reporting.
Do I need to measure my CO₂ footprint for B Corp?
Under the new standards, climate action plays a much more important role. Organisations need to understand their climate impact and develop a credible approach to reducing emissions. For many companies, this means that measuring their CO₂ footprint becomes an important building block of their B Corp journey.
How long does B Corp Certification take?
It depends on the maturity of the organisation. For companies already actively working on ESG, sustainability policies, or impact management, the certification process can take several months. For organisations that are just getting started, the process often takes longer because the necessary processes, policies, and supporting evidence first need to be developed.
Why do companies choose B Corp?
Builds credibility around sustainability
Supports ESG and impact management
Helps attract customers and talent
Aligns with European sustainability developments
Provides an internationally recognised certification for responsible business
Why work with Sustainability Partner?
Sustainability Partner is a Certified B Corporation with experienced Affiliated B Leaders and Certified B Corp Consultants.
For more than five years, we have supported organisations every single day — from their initial impact analysis and gap assessment through to certification, implementation, and continuous improvement, in line with the latest B Lab Standards.
