How to improve the sustainability of companies through the B Corp certification process? Case study: Shayp.

Details

Supervisors

Swaen, Valérie

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

The aim of this master thesis is to study how the B Corp certification process can help companies to be more involved in a move towards more sustainable concerns. We analyze how that process can allow companies to improve their impacts and hereby, their sustainability. We carried out a literature review from which we have built propositions regarding the relevance for companies to dedicate workforce to engage in the B Corp certification process. To analyse the subject, we accompanied the start-up Shayp during one year in their B Corp certification process to experience a « learning by doing » approach. We also conducted interviews with 10 B Corp companies to complete our empirical analysis. Our results, issued from a combination of our experience at Shayp, the interviews of 10 B Corp companies and a rigorous analysis of the academic literature around B Corp, allowed us to conclude that the B Corp certification process appears to be a credible solution for companies which aim at changing their organization by improving their impacts and to strive towards a more sustainable world.