We are so excited to share that Southern Energy Management has completed its sixth B Corp recertification! After achieving our first certification in 2009, being a B Corp has become a core part of who Southern Energy is and what we stand for as a company in the business of leading the change in North Carolina and beyond. New to the B Corp movement? Keep reading to learn what being a B Corp is all about and the impact of our most recent B Corp recertification.
If you’ve been following sustainable brands or have taken a look at the back of product packaging lately (especially in the tea aisle), chances are you’ve come across a little logo with a “B” and some sort of messaging about “Using business as a force for good”. So, what are these brands talking about and what does that little B stand for? Let’s dive into the basics of B Corp Certification and just what it means to be a B Corp.
B Corp Certification is one way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to using better business practices and maintaining a triple bottom line (people + planet + profit) by assessing 5 key impact areas:
Here’s a video from our co-founder, Bob Kingery, on why Southern Energy Management values being a Certified B Corp.
Behind every B Corp is a pledge to “Use Business as a Force for Good” which really translates to valuing a triple bottom line and committing to the Declaration of Interdependence.
We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good.
This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation – Which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:
To become a Certified B Corp, a company must complete the B Impact Assessment (BIA) and receive a score of 80 or more out of a max of 200 points. Southern Energy Management scored 97.3 in our most recent recertification. You can see our past performance from our post celebrating 10 years as a Certified B Corp.
The BIA covers a comprehensive set of B Corp requirements across the five impact categories – Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. Businesses complete the evaluation which is then independently reviewed by B Lab, the global nonprofit organization that administers the B Corp certification. At the completion of the review process, the business will receive their score which will determine if they’ve reached the coveted B Corp status.
Hear from Randy, one of our residential solar designers and B Corp advocates, on why B Corp certification is important for our customers:
Did you know? B Corp Certification is not a one-time achievement. B Corps must complete recertification every 3 years to maintain their certification status. The B Corp assessment is continually evolving to promote higher standards in social and environmental transparency, accountability, and performance. Big changes are on the horizon for the next version of the BIA, to ensure B Corps are even more resilient to social and environmental challenges.
We’ve just scratched the surface of what a B Corp is, so if you’d like to learn more, head over to our post on “What is a Certified B Corporation” →
B Corp is short for B Corporation, which refers to the business certification administered by the nonprofit, B Lab. Fun fact: The “B” in B Corp stands for “Benefit for All”.
Unlike a C Corp, a B Corp is not a legal entity. B Corp refers to a for-profit company that has received B Corp Certification while C Corp refers to a corporation, which is a legal entity that’s separate from its owners. C Corps can also be a B Corp if they receive B Corp certification status. Learn More →
Apart from B Corp certification, a company can also become a “Benefit Corporation.” Similar to C Corps, the key difference between a B Corporation and a Benefit Corporation is that a Benefit Corporation is a legal structure that binds social and environmental impact to the company’s stakeholder governance, essentially making the company legally required to balance a triple-bottom line. While benefit corporations are not required to become a Certified B Corp, the two often go hand in hand. Learn More →
The first group of 82 B Corps was certified in 2007 and we followed shortly after in 2009. Since then, the B Corp movement has grown to over 7,000 companies certified in 91 countries.
Or maybe more importantly, what does it mean to be a B Corp? Let’s take a look at some of the improvements we’ve been working on since our last recertification, and where we’d like to continue improving:
Measure of the company’s overall mission, ethics, accountability and transparency
Measure of the company’s relationship with its workforce and the overall work environment within the company
Measure of the company’s supplier relations, diversity, and involvement in the local community
Measure of the company’s environmental impact through its facilities, materials, emissions, and resource use
Measures whether a products or services promote public benefit and if it is designed to solve an environmental or social issue
For a full recap of what we’ve been up to and our social/environmental impact, check out our 2022 Year in Review →
With a global community of over 7,000 certified B Corps, you may not have realized some of your favorite brands are B Corps too! All around the world, other B Corps are monitoring and measuring their impact, and making improvements to how they do business, just like we outlined above. As far as famous B Corp companies go, Patagonia, Ben & Jerrys, and Cotopaxi are our big 3 household names.
Here’s a B Corp list with more examples of B Corporations you’re probably familiar with (although this is just a sample you can find all the B Corps on the full B Corp Directory):
As far as local North Carolina B Corp Examples, here’s a sample list:
Interested in learning more about the B Movement? Here are some resources to check out:
You don’t have to be a large corporation to make a difference. Whether you’re a business owner, employee, or consumer, you can contribute to positive change. Explore the B Corp community, support B Corp brands, and consider becoming a B Corp yourself! Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable world.
Reach out to our project teams to share your goals and learn more!
North Carolina’s solar power and building performance expert. Founded in 2001, we’ve worked for 20+ years to improve the way people make and use energy.