What is B Corp?
A B Corp certification indicates that a company meets high standards of environmental and social performance. To achieve B Corp status, businesses are assessed across five key areas: corporate governance, workers, customers, community, and environmental impact.
In more detail, companies are expected to make ethical business decisions and hold themselves accountable for their actions. Employees should have access to career development opportunities and be fairly compensated. Businesses should positively impact both their local community and the environment.
To become B Corp certified, companies must apply and undergo a review process. After submitting evidence of good practices, B Lab evaluates the application. If successful, the company earns its certification, but it must recertify every three years to maintain its status.
What does being a B Corp mean to HdK?
Since applying for B Corp certification three years ago, we’ve used its framework to assess our impact, set ambitious goals, and celebrate our achievements as an organisation. It has also allowed us to promote our values and communicate our positive impact more effectively to the world.
What does HdK do as a B Corp?
We are dedicated to supporting the environment and those around us. This includes reducing our carbon footprint and giving back to our community. For instance, our websites are hosted entirely on renewable energy – with HdK’s own site having been powered by renewable energy for the past 10 years! We also strive to enhance our clients’ sustainability ratings through both web and digital marketing efforts.
We actively seek to collaborate with organisations whose values align with ours. Recently, we’ve had the privilege of building a strong partnership with our neighbours at Hoxton Hall, Cardboard Citizens. This incredible organisation empowers people with lived experience of homelessness, poverty, and inequity through the transformative power of theatre and art. In support, we are providing marketing services to help them reach a broader audience.
Additionally, HdK are proud champions of accessibility. We are currently developing phase 2 of Arts Council England’s All In project website, a new UK arts access initiative designed for D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals. The project aims to break down barriers so that more people with access requirements can experience the arts.
There are many more organisations we could mention, and we are grateful for every opportunity to support and collaborate with those who share our values. Together, we can continue making a positive impact and drive meaningful change.
Maintaining our B Corp commitments requires ongoing effort and continuous improvement, which is why we regularly review our practices to ensure we uphold the highest standards of sustainability, ethics, and social impact. From refining our internal policies to exploring new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, we actively seek opportunities to do better and learn from other B Corps, who, like us, embrace innovation.
B Corp certification is far more than just a badge of honour; it’s a commitment we’ve earned and strive to uphold. We’re excited to keep working with and supporting organisations whose missions align with our own, helping arts, culture and heritage organisations to build sustainable digital platforms and create better creative futures.