Having a purpose beyond profit makes companies more resilient
A B Lab Europe study covering 7 European countries shows that between 2019 and 2022, 76% of certified B Corp companies recorded revenue growth, compared to 60% of non-certified companies. During the COVID crisis, they were more likely to maintain their activity.
A received idea persists in business circles: integrating a social or environmental mission damages a company’s financial performance. European data tells a different story.
B Lab Europe published a study covering certified B Corp companies in 7 European countries — Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. The results for the 2019–2022 period are clear.
76% of B Corps recorded revenue growth over this period, compared to 60% of non-certified companies. 35% of B Corps increased their workforce by more than 25%, versus 23% of other companies. During the COVID crisis, B Corps were more likely to maintain their activity than their conventional peers.
B Corp certification evaluates companies on their impact towards workers, communities, the environment and customers — in addition to shareholders. Obtaining and maintaining this certification requires a genuine transformation of practices, not merely improved communications.
These figures suggest that companies with a purpose beyond profit do not sacrifice performance. They build resilience that structures focused solely on quarterly returns struggle to replicate.
Further reading: “There Is No Alternative” — The Evidence That Alternatives Already Exist
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