Sustainable Governance In B Corps

This book aims to develop the theme of non-financial reporting and the necessity of pursuing sustainable development with particular reference to Benefit Corporations and Certified B Corps. The research offers a systematic and exploratory analysis, with the goal of developing a conceptual framework for supporting companies in the achievement of sustainable governance in line with the United Nations’ guidelines for sustainable development. The first chapter reviews the relevant literature and analyzes the concept of sustainable development, focusing on the United Nations’ policies and SDGs. Chapter 2 reviews the relevant literature on corporate social responsibility, describing its evolution from its birth during the Industrial Revolution through to the present day. Chapter 3 focuses on non-financial reporting and emphasizes the need to establish effective social communication with stakeholders that includes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. Chapter 4 explores the value of Benefit Corporations and Certified B Corps, which are companies that have adopted an innovative business model that combines the need for both corporate social responsibility and profitability. Finally, the last chapter uses examples of Italian fashion B Corps to illustrate how such companies make decisions based on CSR.

A compelling look at the B Corp movement and why socially and environmentally responsible companies are vital for everyone’s future Businesses have a big role to play in a capitalist society. They can tip the scales toward the benefit of the few, with toxic side effects for all, or they can guide us toward better, more equitable long-term solutions. Christopher Marquis tells the story of the rise of a new corporate form—the B Corporation. Founded by a group of friends who met at Stanford, these companies undergo a rigorous certification process, overseen by the B Lab, and commit to putting social benefits, the rights of workers, community impact, and environmental stewardship on equal footing with financial shareholders. Informed by over a decade of research and animated by interviews with the movement’s founders and leading figures, Marquis’s book explores the rapid growth of companies choosing to certify as B Corps, both in the United States and internationally, and explains why the future of B Corporations is vital for us all.

Smart sustainability strategies to benefit the bottom line.

Using Business as a Force for Good Join a Growing Movement: Learn how you can join more than 1,000 Certified B Corporations from 80 industries and 35 countries—led by well-known icons like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's and disruptive upstarts like Warby Parker and Etsy—in a global movement to redefine success in business. Build a Better Business: Drawing on interviews, tips, and best practices from over 100 B Corporations, author and B Corp owner Ryan Honeyman shows that using business as a force for good can help you attract and retain the best talent, distinguish your company in a crowded market, and increase customer trust, loyalty, and evangelism for your brand. More than 1,000 companies from 80 industries and 30 countries are leading a global movement to redefine success in business. They're called B Corporations—B Corps for short—and these businesses create high-quality jobs, help build stronger communities, and restore the environment, all while generating solid financial returns. Author and B Corp owner Ryan Honeyman worked closely with over 100 B Corp CEOs and senior executives to share their tips, advice, and best-practice ideas for how to build a better business and how to meet the rigorous standards for—and enjoy the benefits of—B Corp certification. This book makes the business case for improving your social and environmental performance and offers a step-by-step “quick start guide” on how your company can join an innovative and rapidly expanding community of businesses that want to make money and make a difference.

There has been a clear shift in perceptions regarding the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability. Directors now need to acknowledge that sustainability is part of their responsibility in guiding and overseeing corporate activities. As a practical matter, engaging with this wider responsibility is no easy task—an urgent set of challenges superbly met by this incomparable guide. This is the first book to describe how to organize board and senior management activities in order to fulfil the company's goals with respect to operating in a socially responsible manner and acting as a sustainable business. In its step-by-step approach to integrating sustainability principles into corporate governance, this book dramatically shows how policy in such business areas as the following can be redrawn to fit effectively into a sustainability framework: ? audit; ? compensation; ? finance; ? health and safety; ? compliance; ? risk management; ? technology; and ? disclosure and reporting. Numerous valuable suggestions highlight allocation of responsibilities to board committees, preparing and implementing internal governance instruments, and organizing, evaluating, and improving an effective sustainability governance system. Useful tools and resources include annotated forms and checklists, summaries of relevant international and national guidelines, and samples and case studies from companies around the world. The special case of small businesses is covered in a separate chapter. Given the redefinition and expansion of directors' fiduciary duties beyond shareholders to other stakeholders such as employees, customers, and local communities, this book will be welcomed by board members, their professional advisors, policymakers, researchers, and academics involved with issues and initiatives relating to sustainability, employee welfare, social concerns, and environmental stewardship.

In recent years, as corporations and governments have increasingly been confronted with managing the expectations of a society newly alerted to the social and environmental risks of economic development, recognition is dawning that achieving a sustainable world is dependent upon the democratic management and equitable distribution of these risks for now, and for the future. This book, the first to explore the themes of corporate governance and sustainability, argues that a better system of governance on a number of levels holds the key. Contributed to and edited by a distinguished international team, this book recognizes the complex and contested nature of both sustainability and governance, and that these key concepts have been redefined considerably over time. As sustainability poses new and major challenges for the theory and practice of corporate governance, this book, ideal for postgraduate students of business and management, identifies and addresses these challenges.

An analysis of the issues raised concerning both sustainability and governance and an investigation of approaches taken to dealing with these issues. The research has been developed by experts from around the world who each look at different issues in different contexts.

A well-planned marketing orientation strategy that keeps customers informed is the first step to building a long-term relationship with customers and providing them with appropriate incentives. The difficulty with providing a winning strategy in a highly competitive market, however, stems from responding to the specific needs of the customers. Customer Satisfaction and Sustainability Initiatives in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is an essential reference source that links together three highly relevant topics in the business of modern economy—innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability—and analyzes their synergies. Featuring research on topics such as e-business, global business, and sustainable innovation, this book is ideally designed for business consultants, managers, customer service representatives, entrepreneurs, academicians, researchers, and students seeking coverage on directing sustainable companies.