In today’s world, consumers are demanding more from companies than just profit – they want businesses that are committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment.
Improving your carbon footprint has never been more important than it is right now, particularly when there are more ways than ever to reduce your carbon emissions.
Here at Tactical Solutions, we continue to do just that.
Following our commitment to protecting the environment through our Climate Partner accreditation, our colleague well-being and support through our Mental Health First Aiders’s programme and partnership Grocery Aid, we’ve now added another stamp to our name… and it’s our proudest moment yet.
We’re delighted to announce that Tactical Solutions is now a certified B Corporation!
It’s been three years in the making, but we’ve finally done it – Tactical Solutions is now a certified B Corporation.
The B Corp certification now formalises our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, ultimately using our ‘business as a force for good’. Corporate sustainability is something that is at the very heart of what we do, and we’re dedicated to improving our carbon footprint in any way we can.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can become carbon neutral with Tactical Solutions, get in touch today and we’ll be happy to help.
What is a B Corp?
A B Corp (or Benefit Corporation), is a for-profit business that has committed to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
B Corps are certified by the non-profit organisation B Lab, which evaluates a company’s impact on its employees, community, environment and stakeholders.
There are over 6,000 certified B Corps across the world, with more and more expected to follow the trend as more climate science knowledge becomes available.
Who is B Lab?
B Lab is a non-profit organisation that certifies B Corps and aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
B Lab was founded in 2006 and works to promote the growth of the B Corporation movement whilst encouraging businesses to use their power for good. Over the past 17 years, B Lab has certified over 6,000 B Corps in 89 countries around the world, helping to build a global community of businesses committed to using their resources for positive impact.
There are currently 159 industries represented within this accreditation. In the UK there are currently over 1,100 certified B Corps (78% of these businesses are located in the south of England). B Lab’s target is for there to be over 1,800 B Corps in the UK by the end of 2023.
B Lab even opened the UK’s first ever B Corp shop in London’s Soho called Good News.
How does a company become B Corp Certified?
To become a B Corp, a certification process must be followed by every individual business interested in becoming part of the scheme.
Businesses must meet specific requirements in the areas of:
- Governance
- Workers
- Community
- Environmental efforts
- Customers.
Each individual business must also earn a minimum score on the B Impact Assessment and agree to regular assessment and reporting.
What is the B Impact Assessment?
The B Impact Assessment is a comprehensive self-assessment tool that measures a company’s impact on its stakeholders, including:
- Workers
- Community
- The environment
- Customers.
The score determines if a company meets the standards required to become a B Corp. To obtain B Corp accreditation, a company must score a minimum of 80 out of 200 points.
You can find out more about our B corp responsibilities here.
What are the benefits of becoming a B Corp?
Becoming a B Corp can provide a number of benefits to a business.
As well as the environmental and social impact the certification provides, there are a number of other advantages, including:
- Improved reputation and brand differentiation: B Corp certification can help a business stand out in the marketplace as a socially and environmentally responsible company, which can attract customers, employees and investors who value those values.
- Increased competitiveness: B Corp certification can help a business access new markets and customers, as well as attract and retain top talent by demonstrating a commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices.
- Access to a community of like-minded businesses: Joining the B Corp community gives access to a network of companies that share the same values and can share knowledge and best practices, which can lead to additional partnerships, collaborations and new opportunities.
- Improved performance and decision-making: The B Impact Assessment, which is required for certification, provides a framework for measuring and managing a company’s impact on all stakeholders, including workers, customers, suppliers, the community and the environment. This can help a business make better decisions and improve performance in the long term.
- Increased transparency and accountability: B Corp certification requires companies to be transparent about their social and environmental impact and to be accountable to a third-party standard, which can improve trust with stakeholders and the public.
- Increased resilience and long-term success: By considering the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, B Corps may find that implementing sustainable and socially responsible practices can lead to long-term profitability and success.
- A socially responsible company structure and business model – Using a sustainable and environmentally conscious business model will attract new customers – particularly those interested in becoming carbon neutral.
If you’d like to find out more about how our B Corp accreditation can have a positive impact for our customers, you can find out more here.
Tactical Solutions’ B Corp experience
We’re immensely proud of our B Corp accreditation. As we mentioned at the start, it’s been three years of blood, sweat and tears to get here, but it’s 100% worth every effort that the team has put in collectively to get us where we are today.
As a result, not only are we just one of only 25 Welsh B Corps currently listed, but we’re also the first field marketing agency to achieve this status.
At Tactical Solutions, we’ve always been committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment. Becoming a B Corp was a natural next step for us as a social enterprise, as it provides a way to formalise and showcase our commitment.
The B Impact Assessment has recognised our strengths, as well as identifying areas where we can improve our score in the years ahead. The B Corp certification is now in place for the next three years, however we will continuously evaluate and improve our impact. Striving to always be the best that we can be for the community, our customers, our colleagues and ourselves.
This certification allows us to connect with like-minded companies within the B Corp community and encourage more businesses to consider joining this movement too. It also allows us to work together and combine our resources to create a greater positive impact within society.
Cathy Evans, Managing Director, commented: “The wider impact of positive change that being a B Corp provides is going to be the biggest thing we have ever done as a business. Not only making a positive impact within our community, but also setting an example for others to follow. I am really excited about the next phase of our B Corp journey, and I encourage more like-minded businesses to join us on it.”
What does being a B Corp mean for our colleagues and customers?
For our colleagues and customers, being a B Corp means that they are associated with a company that is committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment.
Our colleagues can take pride in working for a company that values sustainability and social responsibility. Our customers can feel confident in supporting a business that is dedicated to creating a better world.
By being a B Corp, we are held to a higher standard of transparency and accountability, ensuring that our practices and policies align with our values and mission. This can also lead to increased employee morale and customer loyalty, as more and more people are looking to support businesses that align with their own values.
Overall, becoming a B Corp benefits not only our company, but also our colleagues and customers, by demonstrating our commitment to making a difference in the world. As well as making Tactical Solutions look better, being a B Corp also makes us work better as a business and a social enterprise.
Lance Preston, Senior Business Unit Controller stated: “Our B Corp accreditation demonstrates to our customers that we are dedicated to conducting business in an ethical and sustainable manner, and it serves as a badge of honour for us. We believe that by proving to our clients that we maintain high standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, this accreditation will strengthen their relationship with us.”
What’s next now that we’re B Corp accredited?
Gaining certification is just the start of our journey. Whilst we’re accredited for three years as a B Corp, we’re required to complete and submit yearly reports regarding the work we’re doing and how that contributes to keeping our BIA score.
At the end of the three years, we’ll then look for re-accreditation and push for a score even higher. We’re dedicated to seeing how we can become even more sustainable, increasing carbon neutrality as much as we can. We’ll keep pushing industry standards and go the extra mile to ensure we meet our climate commitments.
In the meantime, we’ll first look to communicate and educate our colleagues about our B Corp certification. In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching our internal B Corp working group, ‘B The Voice’, which will see us electing our Tactical Solutions ‘B Keepers’ champion. This champion will work with the different work streams that fall within B Corp, seeking to continuously develop the sustainability of our business.
Through wider engagement and the creation of our working groups, we can come together to develop our ways of working, improve our relationships and create a bigger impact – ultimately enabling us to improve our score one step at a time.
It’s a continual and group responsibility and we can’t wait to kick it all off! We’ll be sure to share this journey with you along the way. In the meantime, if you’d like to find out more, get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise further.
Join us in our battle against climate change
Becoming a B Corp is a great way for individual businesses to demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impact on society and the environment. It’s never been more important for businesses to become B Corp companies, particularly with the current climate emergency.
The certification provides a framework for continuous improvement and access to a community of like-minded businesses. If you are looking to make a difference in the world and set your business apart, you should consider becoming a B Corp. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a B Corp, B Lab can help you.
At Tactical Solutions, we’re a modern and forward-thinking data-led field marketing agency, aiming to improve our economic systems in the most sustainable way possible.
We have a wide range of services available, including:
- Distribution and availability
- Promotion compliance
- Data led calls
- NPD launch and range reset
- Product recall
- Retail and store audits
If you’d like to get involved with a B Corp company like Tactical Solutions, get in touch with us today!
