Has the B Corp movement got too big?

Since the certification of the first B Corps in 2007, there has been a significant evolution of the movement. Initially, all certified companies were small or medium-sized and focused on purpose-driven initiatives, like Patagonia, the outdoor clothing retailer. Presently, over 90 of the 6,000+ B Corps are multinational corporations, and their employees make up nearly a third of the total B Corp workforce.

Nestlé-owned coffee brand Nespresso is among the multinational B Corps, and its certification last year caused some controversy within the movement. This led to an open letter signed by 30 existing members urging B Lab to strengthen the certification process to avoid jeopardizing the movement’s integrity.

“The movement has reached a point where it needs to step back and critically reassess its purpose and how far it is living up to its potential,” says Dr Malu Villela, a senior research associate at the University of Bristol’s School of Management.