A (Fairly) Simple Explanation of Our B Corp Certification
Since our founding in 2011, social impact has been our top priority. For fifteen years now, our unwavering goal has been to turn the coffee industry upside down and raise the bar for fair participation of farmers at origin.
B Lab has been helping us pursue this mission for years. They measure a company’s positive impact on its immediate environment. Once a company meets the standards outlined in the detailed B Impact Assessment, it is eligible to carry the B Corp certification.
How exactly does that work and how are we currently doing? We’ll explain it all in this article.
B Corp? B Lab? B Impact Assessment? B Corp Certificate?
A B Corporation (Benefit Corporation) is a company that doesn’t just prioritize financial success but also takes on social and environmental responsibility. It commits to transparency, sustainable practices, and a positive impact on society and the environment. The B Corp certification is awarded by an independent organization, B Lab, and confirms that a company meets high standards in environmental and social performance. Since its founding in 2006, B Lab has supported businesses that want to make a difference.
With the free and confidential B Impact Assessment, B Lab provides a self-evaluation tool that allows companies to assess their impact across five key categories: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.
The result of this assessment is the B Impact Score, measured on a scale from 1 to 200. Any company scoring above 80 points can become a certified B Corp by paying an annual fee and publishing its results on B Lab’s website. The certification must be renewed at least every three years through a new assessment – both because companies evolve and because B Lab continually refines its evaluation criteria. In the future, for example, the scoring system will be replaced, and the standards required to maintain certification will be raised.
So… is B Corp like Fairtrade?
No.
Fairtrade is a product certification. It sets minimum standards within the supply chain – from harvest to supermarket shelves. Fairtrade primarily evaluates the social and environmental practices behind specific products, allowing organizations to purchase the label if they meet the requirements. However, it does not assess the company as a whole.
The B Corp certification, on the other hand, is a company-level certification. The B Impact Assessment looks far beyond individual products.
That means a company may sell Fairtrade products but still fail to qualify as a B Corp – and vice versa. In fact, B Corp standards often go well beyond traditional certifications such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance.
At Coffee Circle, we deliberately decided not to pursue Fairtrade certification – we explain why in a separate article.
The B Impact Assessment
In our most recent assessment, we answered 289 questions to renew our B Corp certification, which we’ve held since 2016. The questionnaire consists of a core section plus five categories, each scored individually as part of the overall B Impact Score.
The Five Evaluation Categories in Detail
Coffee Circle’s B Impact Score
We have now completed the B Impact Assessment three times: 2016, 2019, and most recently 2022.
Our current overall B Impact Score is 106.8 points.
... and that is good?
The average score of companies that take the free assessment is 50.9 points – well below the 80 points required for certification. With our 106.8 points, we are significantly above average.
At the same time, we know there’s always room for improvement. The assessments aren’t just a certification requirement; they’re a valuable tool for self-reflection. They help us see where we stand today and identify areas for growth. Even though the scoring system will soon be replaced, the principle remains – and perhaps even more strongly so. The questionnaires are continually updated, with higher standards and additional evidence required. This ongoing process fosters greater transparency, continuous improvement, and sustainable action.
What Earned Coffee Circle Such a High Score?
We received our highest marks in the Community category. This is where our donation-based impact model truly shines. For every kilogram of coffee you buy, we invest €1 in social projects through our Coffee Circle Foundation e.V. in the coffee-growing regions we source from directly through Direct Trade.
Through these projects, we implement initiatives – based on clear criteria – that sustainably improve living conditions for local communities. Our focus areas include education, hygiene, and sustainable coffee cultivation.
Through coffee sales and additional donations, we’ve already generated over €4.5 million in funds – 100% of which have gone directly into our projects.
In 2023, we also launched the Coffee Circle Vision Fund through our nonprofit Coffee Circle Foundation e.V., now entering its second round. This initiative supports coffee farmers and local communities in growing regions worldwide. In its first year, we invested in six key projects.
We also scored very well in the Governance category, thanks to our strong commitment to social responsibility. This section assesses how intentionally a company’s business model is designed to create positive outcomes for stakeholders – employees, communities, the environment, and customers.
Driving change in coffee-growing regions – for the people in those communities – has always been Coffee Circle’s core motivation. We’re proud that B Lab recognizes this commitment.