Abstract
Nowadays, for companies to assert themselves in the markets, the focus on sustainability and social responsibility is preponderant and supported by academic research. For this, certification is considered an essential means to achieve high levels of social responsibility and sustainable development. In this study, we investigate the Geo distribution of the B Corp certification, a certification aligned with the main assumptions of the triple bottom line. Given its novelty, the B Corp certification phenomenon diffusion/evolution, namely its degree of implementation in different countries, has yet to be researched in depth. Hence, this study, supported by data gathered through the B Corporation certification system database, descriptive statistics, and geo-reference interactive maps, maps B Corp certified organizations’ geographical distribution and worldwide growth. The sample refers to a total of 2262 companies certified between the period 2017 and March 2021. The result showed a strong presence in the United States and appreciable growth in Europe, allowing for a better understanding of the B Corp diffusion patterns and supporting companies and certification bodies worldwide to emphasize social responsibility and sustainable development.
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The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for its financial support - UIDB/50022/2020 (LAETA Base Funding).
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Sá, J.C., Silva, V., Fonseca, L., Lima, V., Dinis-Carvalho, J. (2024). Sustainability - B Corporation Geo Distribution. In: Silva, F.J.G., Ferreira, L.P., Sá, J.C., Pereira, M.T., Pinto, C.M.A. (eds) Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems. FAIM 2023. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_107
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