From addressing large-scale environmental and societal challenges through business to advocating for better legislation for all, B Corps go beyond the status quo in multiple ways. They do so because, behind the B Corp movement, there are thousands of people using business as a force for good. In this article, you can hear from three of them.

What does it mean to lead the way when it comes to benefiting people and the planet? What type of culture and values can leaders embed into their organizations? When the majority of people want to work for companies that are trying to have a positive impact on the world, the concept of leadership has been redefined over the past decade, and we set out to uncover some themes that transcend any specific business.

With over 2,000 B Corps across Europe (including the UK), there is no shortage of inspiring leaders who embody what it means to go beyond business as usual. From tech to food to consulting, we spoke to three impact-driven leaders who shared what it means for them to go beyond. Having a clear purpose beyond profits, looking beyond competition to embrace collaboration, and advocating for policy and legislation to inspire all businesses to go beyond are some of the key takeaways we hope more leaders embrace as we change the rules of the game.

Too Good To Go’s mission is to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together. The Too Good To Go app is the world’s number one marketplace for surplus food. Since launching in 2016, Too Good To Go has saved over 200 million meals, which is equivalent to 500,000 tonnes of CO2e. Operating in 17 markets across Europe and America, the Certified B Corp connects more than 75 million users with over 134,000 partner businesses to rescue and save unsold food.

But Too Good To Go’s impact goes way beyond connecting consumers with businesses. The company is committed to reducing food waste throughout the entire food system and developing solutions for businesses to fight food waste while optimizing their operations. By working directly with retailers and manufacturers, Too Good To Go provides tools and solutions that can help unlock value from surplus food, maximize profits, and reduce waste.

(Photo Credit: Les Kaner)

Tony’s Chocolonely is an impact company that makes chocolate and fights for equality in the chocolate industry. Tony’s exists to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate. Not just their own chocolate, but all chocolate worldwide. And the only way to make this happen is by working together. Tony’s raises awareness around child labor and forced labor in cocoa, because for change to happen, everyone has to be aware of current problems, possible solutions, and the role we each play.

The road to driving systemic change requires a commitment to continuous improvement. No company is perfect – but transparency, accountability, and a relentless pursuit of tackling the world’s most pressing issues including child labor are key to transforming the industry. Tony’s Chocolonely was one of the first B Corps in Europe, and for the past decade, they have been committed to making improvements and advocating for change across all impact areas, from packaging to sourcing to human rights.

Tony’s leads by example by being 100% traceable from bean-to-bar, because knowing who produces the beans where and under which circumstances is the only way to take full responsibility. Tony’s also pays a higher cocoa price that enables cocoa farmers to earn a living. By investing in long-term partnerships and working directly with cocoa cooperatives, as well as working on quality and productivity together with the farmers, Tony’s aims to make cocoa farming structurally more sustainable. The B Corp-certified chocolate company shows that it is possible to make chocolate differently and inspires others to do the same.

ADS Insight is an independent, EU public affairs consultancy with more than 20 years of experience. The company has two complementary business strands; one that bridges the business and policy interface, and one that bridges the science and policy interface. As facilitators of dialogue, ADS Insight offers EU policy advisory and government relations services, including support on EU funding applications. They also organize events, webinars, podcasts, and large science-based congresses.

ADS’s mission, geared towards Advocacy, Dialogue, and Sustainability (A-D-S), is to help companies and organizations understand and contribute to the processes that shape EU legislation, in order to achieve sustainable policies. As a newly Certified B Corp that goes beyond using business as a force for good, they use their position to support organizations with ambitious sustainability goals with their EU public affairs, and sometimes on a pro bono basis when there is a shared vision and/or where the organization has few means to dedicate to policy engagement. For over 10 years, for example, ADS Insight has supported the Sea Alarm Foundation – advancing oiled wildlife preparedness and response. With their expertise in shaping and guiding future policy, they are also voluntarily supporting the Interdependence Coalition led by B Lab to shape rules that will formally embed sustainability in EU corporate governance laws. 

The goal is to bridge the gaps, communicate using sound science, and support policymakers and stakeholders, alike, in achieving meaningful and enforceable laws.

Want to meet and collaborate with other inspiring leaders from the B Corp Community? This year B Lab Europe has partnered with the B for Good Leaders Summit, an invite-only gathering from May 11-12 in Amsterdam of founders, leaders, and C-suite executives working towards a regenerative future. Request an invite today!