More than a label: Living the B Corp ethos

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September 25, 2025 - There’s a clear difference between B Corp and the various existing certifications and sustainability labels. B Lab has created a global community of companies committed to using business as a force for good. The organisation certifies and supports over 10,000 B Corps, promoting radical cooperation among businesses with shared values. Every certified company signs the Declaration of Interdependence – a statement that embodies the DNA of this movement.

That DNA goes far beyond certification alone. B Corp is about community, not just carrying a label. It’s about business leaders who are intrinsically motivated to create positive impact. Who inspire and support each other. Who choose to be stakeholder-driven, recognising shareholders as one of many important voices.

This global network is built on a culture of trust and friendship, where small businesses support larger ones and vice versa. Together, they ask: How can we involve the majority? How can we step outside our own bubble?

The first step to becoming a B Corp is completing the B Impact Assessment and receiving a minimum score for certification. But it doesn’t end there. It’s a process of continuous improvement. With every re-certification – required every three years – the bar is raised. This ensures an ongoing commitment to impact, supported by data and action. Certification is not the finish line; it’s the beginning of a journey.

VP Capital’s B Corp journey

We became a B Corp in 2022, because we saw its unique ability to assess a company’s full social and environmental impact – and its potential to build a values-aligned business ecosystem.

Mark Schravesande, Impact Manager:

“At the time, we achieved a score of 98.6 – well above the 80-point threshold. More importantly, the feedback we received helped shape our roadmap for the next three years.”

2024 marked the final year of our first certification cycle. In November, we submitted our updated B Impact Assessment, having implemented key improvements across five B Corp categories.

Embedding impact into our governance
We’ve worked to make our impact strategy more actionable – identifying root causes, setting clear objectives and KPIs, and expanding our team. We appointed a Director of Impact to the Managing Board, and impact is now embedded throughout our investment cycle. It’s a recurring agenda item for both the Managing Board and Supervisory Board.
Promoting wellbeing and gender inclusion
Based on employee feedback, we introduced initiatives to improve wellbeing – including a bicycle leasing scheme and a company-wide vitality programme. We also strengthened our policies to promote gender diversity and inclusion, both internally and across our investments.
A more strategic approach to charitable giving
We have introduced an annual Volunteer Day. In its first edition, all employees participated, supporting a local health centre. We also realigned our giving strategy, connecting donations to our core impact areas: biodiversity, climate, and social equality.
Supporting positive change
We follow a structured approach to support our portfolio companies. A key element is encouraging them to implement their own sustainability roadmaps, addressing biodiversity, climate, and social equality. As a result, all direct participations now have validated science-based targets and reduction plans. As another example, VP Textile co-founded the Green Gear Alliance to improve workwear collection, advance PFAS-free research, and strengthen labour conditions as a Fair Wear Foundation leader.
Being transparent about our standards
We’ve integrated biodiversity, climate, and social equality into our internal processes and clearly communicate these standards to our partners and wider network. Beyond our investment practice, we actively participate in sector events, share our perspectives, and foster dialogue to accelerate collective progress. By doing so, we aim to inspire and challenge partners and co-investors to embrace the same ambition, while strengthening our profile as an impact-driven investor and advancing our goal of using capital as a catalyst for positive change.

After three years of committed work, we are delighted to see our progress reflected in our recently updated B Corp score. Our aim was to score 125 points, a 25+ point increase from our initial certification. To our pleasant surprise, we’ve surpassed this goal, with an updated B Corp score of 160,2 points.

But let’s be clear: For us, B Corp isn’t just a label. It’s a guiding principle. It shapes how we operate, invest, and create impact – with the aim of contributing to global challenges, building trust, and strengthening our relationships with the communities we serve.