B Corp is an initiative of the non-profit network B Lab, which aims to create a global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy. Its USP is its ability to measure a company’s entire social and environmental impact. Digital CX agency, Rogerwilco, has become the largest marketing agency in Africa to achieve B Corp certification.
This is a triple bottom line assessment that evaluates an organisation’s approach to profit, people and the planet, and confirms they meet the highest social and environmental standards. Rogerwilco scored 106.8 on the B Corp scale, putting it in the top 10% globally. This is way above requirements: the median score is 50.9 and the global average for certified businesses in the marketing industry is 80.7.
The rigorous B Corp evaluation process, which took just under a year, would have been more daunting had Rogerwilco not already embarked on its own Be Better™ enrichment programme to redefine its purpose.
Rogerwilco CEO, Charlie Stewart, said, ‘We initiated the Be Better™ initiative in late 2023 because we know that businesses with an authentic, credible purpose consistently outperform for their clients and themselves. This meant that by the time we started the B Corp evaluation we’d already created a culture of self-improvement and an appetite to find ways of bettering our actions and impacts.’
Stewart said B Corp’s verification analysts examined the agency in detail, from governance structures to staff welfare and development, plus the way they interact with their communities. ‘Environmental impact is also rated and it mattered that we don’t take on clients in destructive industries like mining, fossil fuels and gambling.’
Becoming a B Corp quickly deepened the sense of togetherness and belonging inside the agency. Staff attrition dropped sharply and Stewart said there’s a buzz in the company that he hasn’t felt since before lockdown. Clients are happier and profits are up.
He said the external validation earned from becoming a B Corp has turned Rogerwilco’s organisational purpose from words into visible action. ‘This authenticity is helping us grow a powerful, unifying culture because everyone associated with the agency has found something in the B Corp status that resonates with their personal values and gives them reasons to believe in us.’
Some appreciate care for their wellbeing and personal development, others value micro-community CSR initiatives, and most are proud to be part of the environmental improvement process. Stewart said there’s a lot of goodwill towards a company whose business practices align with their personal principles.
There are myriad reasons to apply for B Corp certification: to demonstrate a commitment to the triple bottom line, to be part of a community of like-minded change makers, or to attract staff and new business. ‘For us, it was about providing hard evidence that we really are on a journey to improve ourselves,’ said Stewart.
The entire evaluation process takes anywhere from 10 to 18 months, depending on the business’s preparedness. Some assessment criteria are similar to the B-BBEE scorecard although far more robust. Being a Level 1 contributor meant that some of the agency’s groundwork was already in place but a number of policies had to be updated to meet B Corp’s more rigorous standards.
B Corps are re-evaluated every three years to ensure they continue to meet the required standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. ‘We’re keen to see how a more conscious approach to conducting business impacts on our score in our 2027 recertification,’ said Stewart.
ROGERWILCO
https://www.rogerwilco.co.za
