‘B Corp isn’t a badge, it’s a mindset’

My new article in the drinks business:

‘B Corp isn’t a badge, it’s a mindset’, says English winery

by L.M. Archer

Despite industry headwinds, more EU wineries are embracing B Corp certification as a means to bolster business.

“The wine industry is facing challenges – from climate change to evolving consumer habits,” says Tamara Roberts, CEO of Ridgeview winery in Sussex, England. “Balancing environmental responsibility with business resilience is an ongoing focus.”

Ridgeview earned B Corp certification in 2022, becoming the first winery in England to complete the exacting programme. “What we liked and respected about B Corp was the 360-view of sustainability,” says Roberts. “Looking at it across every area of the business, not just environmental impact.”

Elevated standards

Simply put, B Corps requires for-profit companies to maintain elevated standards of environmental and social performance, accountability, and transparency, while identifying areas of improvement.

Applicant assessments tally efforts in areas of governance, people, community, customers, and environment, requiring a final ’impact score’ of 80 points or above. According to B Corp, the median score for businesses taking the assessment falls at 50.9. The ultimate goal? Eventually earning 100 points.

“From the start, we saw B Corp as an opportunity to embed change across the whole business, and bring the entire team on the journey,” says Roberts. “Having a tangible impact score gives us a clear sense of progress, with the 100-point goal inspiring us to keep pushing forward.”  In 2024, Ridgeview received a 92.9 aggregate score.

B Corp certification also produced some unexpected benefits. “B Corp gave us a shared language and purpose,” says Roberts. “It’s helped connect people to something bigger than themselves, beyond just making world-class sparkling wine.”

Rigorous process

But obtaining B Corp certification isn’t for the faint of heart.  “The B Corp process was rigorous,” admits Alberto Tasca, eighth-generation CEO and proprietor of Sicily’s Tasca d’Almerita, which achieved B Corp certification in 2023…. READ MORE HERE.

I’m delighted to share my latest article in the drinks business about these EU wineries embracing B Corp certification to bolster business.

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