Using business as a force for good
OUR FACTORY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE Learn more on: blab-switzerland.ch To create a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all.
EDUCATION & RESEARCH
POLICY CHANGE & COLLECTIVE ACTION
IMPACT MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMMES & CERTIFICATION
EDUCATION & RESEARCH
IMPACT MANAGEMENT
POLICY CHANGE & COLLECTIVE ACTION
PROGRAMMES & CERTIFICATION
Introduction
PROGRAMMES & CERTIFICATION Our programmes and certifications empower businesses to embark on meaningful journeys to- ward sustainability, starting with our entry-level SDG programme, which helps create verified action plans and commitments, and culminating in our flagship B Corp certification, which acknowledges high standards of social and environmental impact. At B Lab Switzerland Foundation, we are committed to weaving a factory of positive change that trans- forms the role of business in society. At the heart of our mission are four foundational pillars that em- body our Theory of Change: Through education and research , we strive to educate the leaders of tomorrow, partnering with academics to ensure our initiatives are grounded in science.
IMPACT MANAGEMENT Finally, our focus on impact management provides businesses with a set of methods and tools to measure and improve their operations, driving strategic change that contributes to a more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy. Together, these pillars guide our commitment to fostering a movement where businesses act as a force for good, working together to build a sustain- able future for all. We believe in the power of collective action and policy work to engage companies in catalysing positive impact throughout their supply chains. By advocating for structural change and building an impact-driven market infrastructure, we aim to cre- ate systemic solutions that benefit all.
EDUCATION & RESEARCH
IMPACT MANAGEMENT
POLICY CHANGE & COLLECTIVE ACTION Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises Sectoral Impact Coalition
PROGRAMMES & CERTIFICATION
Positive Impact Toolkit Strategic Lighthouse B Impact Assessment Toolbox Agenda 2030 for Business
Positive Impact Practictioner B Academy Programme Future-fit Leadership B Ecosystem Insights
B Corp Certification
Swiss Triple Impact
Swiss Boards for Agenda 2030
Value Chain Activation
Swiss Impact & Prosperity Initiative
Startup Pathway
EMPOWERING PEOPLE & REDEFINING THE PURPOSE OF ORGANISATIONS FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY
Programmes & Certification
Join the B Corp Movement
As such, the B Corp certification goes beyond certifying products and services. B Corp is a movement of like-minded leaders who want to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient economy.
The B Corp™ Certification
Certified B Corporations are committed to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Organisations using the B Impact Assessment worldwide 350’000
Certified B Corps worldwide 9’800
Through the B Impact Assessment (BIA), the B Corp certification covers the impact of op - erations and business models on workers, communities, governance, the environment and customers. From diversity and stake- holder governance to environmental man- agement, supply chain management and employee benefits, the B Corp certification demonstrates how companies address their impact on all stakeholders over the long term by incorporating legal requirements into their bylaws.
B Corps active in Switzerland 550
Swiss-based B Corps 135
Explore the latest draft standards
Evolution of Standards
None of this is possible without the power of the B Corp community and our wider movement of business acting together as a force for good. In the new standards, B Lab is also prioritis- ing ‘interoperability’ with relevant regulations, such as EU directives and other certification schemes. From the end of 2025, the new stan- dards will incentivise the most impactful busi- ness actions and focus on what really matters, meaningfully demonstrating the leadership that the B Corps play in the world.
As the climate crisis intensifies and societal inequality grows, the need to bring about sys- temic change is clear. B Lab is rising to the challenge and is currently undertaking a multi- year project to evolve its standards. Transformation takes time. We are not simply revising our standards - this is an evolution and a necessary one. We must move away from economic principles that promote greed, wealth inequality, ecological collapse, and so- cial dysfunction.
The Swiss Triple Impact Programme
Join the Swiss Triple Impact
A national programme to build a future-fit business, while having a positive impact on society and the environment.
The private sector has an important role to play in achieving the Agenda 2030 and a sustainable economy transition. However, it is difficult for many companies to know where to start and which actions to take. This is where the Swiss Triple Impact (STI) Programme comes into play. Using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework, we help Swiss organisations – regardless of size or sector – to define a clear and tailored sustainability strategy in 3 steps:
Structure
Prioritise
Transform
Participating organisations 500 STI Directory Leaders 100 pledges taken 400
The Start-up Pathway helps integrate sustain- able practices from the start, offering support through tailored sustainability workshops and collective journeys built in partnership with in- cubators. It provides the necessary resources, mentorship and guidance to enable startups to embed sustainability early for lasting impact. Start-up Pathway The Sectoral Pathway facilitates structured dis- cussions among industry participants to adopt common sustainability standards and best practices. Through workshops designed in col- laboration with industry associations, the path- way promotes knowledge sharing using case studies, reports and presentations, helping or- ganisations to exchange and align their goals. Sectoral Pathways This track offers tailored collaborations to help companies align sustainability practices across their value chains. Through a series of workshops, participants identify common is- sues that can be addressed collectively. VCA benefits companies, suppliers and industry associations by promoting standards, collabo- ration and continuous improvement. Value Chain Activation (VCA)
Policy Change & Action Collective
The Swiss Boards for Agenda 2030
The Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises
SWISS BOARDS FOR AGENDA 2030
The Swiss Boards for Agenda 2030 (SBA2030) initiative, led by B Lab Switzerland, InTent and IMD, aims to unite Swiss CEOs and board members to make sustainability a priority at board level. The coalition seeks to acceler- ate the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering business collaboration and increas- ing accountability for environmental and social responsibility.
The Alliance for Sustainable Enterprises , led by B Lab Switzerland, promotes sustainable business practices in Switzerland to transform the economy for the benefit of people and the planet. By advocating for supportive legal frameworks and creating a new Swiss Prosper- ity & Impact Initiative beyond GDP, it promotes systemic change towards a regenerative econ- omy.
Join the #SBA2030 coalition
Sign our Manifesto
Impact Management
5 impact areas
The B Impact Assessment
Once filled in, the tool provides a detailed and holistic impact report on a company’s social and environmental performance, its transparency and accountability to stakeholders, and areas for improvement. The most credible tool a company can use to measure its impact on workers, communities, the environment, customers and governance.
The SDG Action Manager
The SDG Action Manager is a free, dig- ital management solution that enables companies to align their objectives with the SDGs and take action.
Measure your impact for free with the BIA
Education & Research
The B Leaders Programme
Read more about the B Leaders Programme
B Leaders is a training programme that equips people to measure and improve business impact and to lead organisations through the B Corp certification process. It is also a community of practitioners who share ideas to find solutions to social and environmental challenges and man- age profit and purpose. The community of B Leaders is a powerful building block of B Lab’s Theory of Change: by supporting businesses, B Leaders act as catalysts and allies for systems change. In particular, they help companies embed sus- tainability into their decision-making processes and create the right incentives to consider all their stakeholders; change the definition of success to one defined by performance across financial, social and environmental metrics; redefine the role of business to become a force for good; and reset the nature of the economic system itself to one that is inclusive, equitable and regenerative.
The programme includes:
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Concrete hands-on experience to validate the training
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Peer learning Group exercices
Experts interventions and sharing of best practices
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Networking opportunities
“The B Leader journey was hard but rewarding. It has equipped me to lead companies to measure and improve their impact and ultimately achieve B Corp certification. I am excited to be part of a community that is using business for positive impact.” - Maria Antonietta Potsios, Senior Communications & PR Consultant at Open up
B Leaders trained in total +550
trained B Leaders in 2024 +60
training hosted since 2018 30
The Sustainability Change-Makers Programme
Read more about the Change-Makers Programme
It helps teams drive impactful change through real-life examples, a network of leading prac- titioners and expert support. It is adaptable to organisational needs, offers networking oppor- tunities and flexible packages, and serves as a comprehensive tool for companies looking to improve their sustainability performance.
The Sustainability Change-Makers programme builds on the best practices and lessons learned from B Lab Switzerland’s 1000+ ecosystem members. A tailored training for an organisation ’ s extended sustainability team to learn and plan together.
Academic Collaboration
Read more about the B Academy Programme
Academic institutions play a crucial role in sha- ping tomorrow’s leaders and preparing students for the realities they will face in the workplace. That’s why B Lab Switzerland has developed B Academy , a programme that teaches im- pact measurement methods, inclusive business pathways and supports research at universities and higher education institutions. B Academy provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and best practices in sustainability, and connects academics with the business community to explore the role of the private sector in building a resilient and sustai- nable economy. Through classroom activities, lectures and consultancy projects, students gain the tools, case studies and skills needed to address real-world business challenges and contribute to a more sustainable future. Education is the cornerstone of transformative change; by empowering minds, we empower so- cieties to evolve on a global scale.
The programme includes:
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Class intervention from one to three days on impact measurement and improvement Lecture on sustainability, from 8 to 14 weeks Consulting projects between students and companies in the B Ecosystem Presentations by founders and sustain- ability managers of certified companies
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“The B Academy provided IMD MBA students with a unique opportunity to learn about one of the world’s leading impact assessment methodologies, to connect the dots with the key learnings of our “Business & Society” stream, and to take a deep dive into the impact of both local and global brands by pitching two action-oriented.” - Sophie Bacq, Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at IMD
years of activity 9
partner universities 12
featured companies 70
students trained on applied sustainability +3’000
FAQs About B Lab Switzerland B Lab Switzerland, as part of a global network, is a non-profit foundation serving a movement of people using business as a force for good. We work to redefine the role of business in so - ciety by promoting accountability, transparen- cy, advocacy for policy change, and environ- mental and social impact through standards, tools, and training. Our vision is for companies not to aim to be the best in the world, but the best for the world – fostering collective ac- tion to scale and build an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy where businesses contribute to lasting positive change.
Join the B Ecosystem
The B Ecosystem brings together members from all of B Lab Switzerland’s key initiatives, as well as businesses and individuals committed to driving a more sustainable future. It unites organisations across Switzerland, all working towards a com- mon goal: driving meaningful environmental and social progress. The B Ecosystem represents: • 44’000 employees in Switzerland • 600M capital raised • 16B in revenue* The B Ecosystem
Members gain access to training, resources, and events that help them address sustainabi- lity challenges. They also join a broad network of businesses committed to measuring and im- proving their impact. Whether through certifica - tion or other pathways, the B Ecosystem sup- ports all members in enhancing their positive contributions and aligning with global sustaina- bility goals, helping redefine the role of business in society.
enterprises 600
engaged sectors 55
unique goal 1
members 1’000
*Figures for 2022-2024
B Lab Switzerland Foundation of public utility support@blab-switzerland.ch blab-switzerland.ch Geneva - Lausanne - Zurich
© B Lab Switzerland, edition of November 2024.
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