The advance of B Corporations in Italy: ESG commitments drive revenues

Last month they reached 370 in Italy, 80% more than in October 2024. We are talking about B Corporations, i.e. companies that meet the standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability of the American non-profit organisation B Lab. The indications of a fast-growing phenomenon in our country are also evident in the Leader of Growth 2026 Sole 24 Ore-Statista ranking where B Corps are numerous. 'Joining the community,' explains Veronica Fervier, country manager of B Lab Italia, 'means adopting a holistic framework for measuring and managing impact, which guides companies towards continuous improvement. It offers credibility on the market and strengthens the company's reputation, it allows you to connect with other companies that share the same vision and values, and to be part of a global movement that wants to transform the economy into a more inclusive, equitable and regenerative system. It also fosters the attraction and retention of motivated talent and facilitates access to sustainability-conscious investors, creating a real impetus for responsible growth'.

A choice of field that rewards, as shown by the research conducted last March by the Intesa Sanpaolo Research Department, which compared more than 250 B Corporations with a sample of traditional companies comparable in size and macro sector of activity over the three-year period 2021-2023. "The result," says Fervier, "is very clear: B Corps grow more, create more employment and maintain solid margins. Over the period considered, their turnover was 11% higher, with an even more marked difference for small companies: +31% compared to +16% for traditional ones.

Today, the community represents over 70 sectors in Italy. In first place is manufacturing, followed by professional and technical services, information, tlc and technology.

Last April, the rules of the game changed with new standards. It abandoned cumulative scoring and now B Corporations must meet certain requirements in seven impact topics, from climate action to human rights. "This ensures," he noted, "that each B Corp maintains high and balanced performance across all environmental, social and governance dimensions. Not only that. "Companies," he concluded, "will also have to demonstrate steady progress over time. Being a B Corp, therefore, is not a static goal but an evolutionary journey, which requires constantly monitoring, measuring and improving one's impact on people, communities and the environment."