Our B-Corp Recertification
We’ve been immensely proud to be part of the B-Corp community since we received our initial certification in 2017. Social & environmental responsibility has always been a core value to the Baabuk journey and receiving that certification from an internationally trusted organization validated our efforts.
Our initial B-Corp impact score was calculated at 80.1 – just above the required score of 80 to achieve a B-Corp Brand certification. We were proud to receive the certification, but understood that it was just the beginning, and there was far more work to be done. After all, the ethos of Baabuk is one of persistent innovation and improvement.
As part of B-Corp’s guiding principles, certified brands must regularly complete a recertification process to ensure the organization’s standards continue to be met. Baabuk has just completed this process and we’re eager to announce our official B-Corp Certification renewal. This recertification comes with overall impact score increase of over 10%, to a score of 89.6 points.
What is B-Corp Certification
The B-Corp Certification is conferred to for-profit business that meet specific social and environmental performance standards. The certification process is managed by B Lab, a global nonprofit organization. B-Lab explains the certification as:
“ … the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance. The B Impact Assessment evaluates how your company’s operations and business model impact your workers, community, environment, and customers. From your supply chain and input materials to your charitable giving and employee benefits, B Corp Certification proves your business is meeting the highest standards of verified performance.”
To become certified, companies submit to the B Impact Assessment, which explores the business’ operations. There are a total of 200 available points in 5 categories – governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Most companies score between 40 – 100 points, with 80 points as the minimum requirement to receive a B-Corp Certification.
What is the recertification process?
Certified B Corps are required to complete the B Impact Assessment every three years to renew the certification. This is done to ensure that companies continue to maintain the high standards set by B-Lab. The B Impact Assessment is the same deep-dive into company operations that first-time applicants submit, although specific questions and scoring metrics evolve over time.
Score changes
In 2017, Baabuk’s Overall Impact score was 80.1 out of a possible 200 points. With our 2021 recertification, our score has risen to 89.6. This score is calculated from the five following categories:
Governance
"Governance evaluates a company's overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. This section also evaluates the ability of a company to protect their mission and formally consider stakeholders in decision making through their corporate structure (e.g. benefit corporation) or corporate governing documents."
Baabuk’s updated governance score is 15.1 , up from 10.8 in 2017. Part of this increase comes from a stronger mission-driven business structure.
Workers
"Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement & satisfaction. In addition, this section recognizes business models designed to benefit workers"
Baabuk’s updated workers score is 22.9, up from 20.6 in 2017. We’ve added additional financial protection and benefits for our team throughout the past several years. Additionally, we’ve expanded health benefit offerings to our team in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community
"Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics include diversity, equity & inclusion, economic impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and supply chain management. In addition, this section recognizes business models that are designed to address specific community-oriented problems"
Baabuk’s updated community score is 32.4, down from 37.0 in 2017. While we engaged in some giving programs in 2020, such as the You Care, We Care program and ProSpecieRara Miss Baabuka program, the recertification process helped identify that there is far more we can do in this area. We’re committed to contributing to meaningful improvements in our community.
Environment
"Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable its supply chain and distribution channels. This section also recognizes companies with environmentally innovative production processes and those that sell products or services that have a positive environmental impact."
Baabuk’s updated environment score is 15.3, up from 11.7 in 2017. We’ve made improvements to our supply chain, management of resources, and office emissions.
Customers
"Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. In addition, this section recognizes products"
Baabuk’s updated Customers score is 3.7. The Customers score is a new category since our initial certification. We aim to be good stewards of our customers with ethical data privacy policies, honesty in marketing, and issue remediation service.
What’s next
The journey is ongoing. While we are proud of our score increases, we are still far from fully satisfied. We commit to continuous improvement in all areas – from our environmental impact to our ethical treatment of staff.