IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/corsem/v32y2025i3p3729-3769.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

B‐Corp Certification: Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanna Attanasio
  • Cinzia Battistella
  • Elia Chizzolini

Abstract

This paper aims to study the adoption and impact of B‐Corp certification by systematically reviewing key papers on this topic published in peer‐reviewed journals from 2006 to 2024. The paper proposes a conceptual framework that provides a comprehensive overview of research themes, subdivided into five broad research focuses: drivers and enablers for organisations seeking certification, barriers they encounter, implementation issues of B‐Corp certification and the outcomes achieved post‐certification. The study offers a thorough overview of the academic literature on B‐Corp certification, laying a strong foundation for future research on the subject. The literature reveals similarities in objectives, approaches and methods, often yielding overly optimistic results that fail to capture the complex impact of B‐Corp certification. A range of research opportunities is presented, establishing a research agenda to guide future studies in the field. The findings can support decision‐making regarding the adoption and renewal of certification by evaluating its cost–benefit. Policymakers can utilise this comprehensive overview of knowledge to inform their decisions on regulatory actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanna Attanasio & Cinzia Battistella & Elia Chizzolini, 2025. "B‐Corp Certification: Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 3729-3769, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:32:y:2025:i:3:p:3729-3769
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.3118
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.3118
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/csr.3118?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne-Laure P. Winkler & Jill A. Brown & David L. Finegold, 2019. "Employees as Conduits for Effective Stakeholder Engagement: An Example from B Corporations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(4), pages 913-936, December.
    2. Muñoz, Pablo & Cacciotti, Gabriella & Cohen, Boyd, 2018. "The double-edged sword of purpose-driven behavior in sustainable venturing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 149-178.
    3. Serres, Coline & Hudon, Marek & Maon, François, 2022. "Social corporations under the spotlight: A governance perspective," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(3).
    4. Vincenzo Riso & Mouhcine Tallaki & Enrico Bracci & Silvia Cantele, 2024. "The transition towards benefit corporations: What are the roles for stakeholders?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 904-916, February.
    5. Janine Hiller, 2013. "The Benefit Corporation and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 287-301, December.
    6. Karl Aiginger & Dani Rodrik, 2020. "Rebirth of Industrial Policy and an Agenda for the Twenty-First Century," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 189-207, June.
    7. Yeuseung Kim, 2021. "Certified corporate social responsibility? The current state of certified and decertified B Corps," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1760-1768, November.
    8. Mara Del Baldo, 2019. "Acting as a benefit corporation and a B Corp to responsibly pursue private and public benefits. The case of Paradisi Srl (Italy)," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Patrizia Gazzola & Daniele Grechi & Paola Ossola & Enrica Pavione, 2019. "Certified Benefit Corporations as a new way to make sustainable business: The Italian example," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(6), pages 1435-1445, November.
    10. Wendy Stubbs, 2019. "Strategies, practices, and tensions in managing business model innovation for sustainability: The case of an Australian BCorp," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5), pages 1063-1072, September.
    11. Constanza Bianchi & Valentina Reyes & Veronica Devenin, 2020. "Consumer motivations to purchase from benefit corporations (B Corps)," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 1445-1453, May.
    12. Malu Villela & Sergio Bulgacov & Glenn Morgan, 2021. "B Corp Certification and Its Impact on Organizations Over Time," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 343-357, May.
    13. Giorgio Mion & Cristian Rolando Loza Adaui & Angelo Bonfanti, 2021. "Characterizing the mission statements of benefit corporations: Empirical evidence from Italy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2160-2172, May.
    14. Giorgia Nigri & Mara Del Baldo & Armando Agulini, 2020. "Governance and accountability models in Italian certified benefit corporations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2368-2380, September.
    15. Mion, Giorgio & Loza Adaui, Cristian R. & Bonfanti, Angelo & De Crescenzo, Veronica, 2023. "Mission statements and financial and sustainability performance: An exploratory study of Benefit Corporations certified as B Corps," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    16. Kuratko, Donald F. & McMullen, Jeffery S. & Hornsby, Jeffrey S. & Jackson, Chad, 2017. "Is your organization conducive to the continuous creation of social value? Toward a social corporate entrepreneurship scale," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 271-283.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patrizia Gazzola & Stefano Amelio & Daniele Grechi & Chiara Alleruzzo, 2022. "Culture and sustainable development: The role of merger and acquisition in Italian B Corps," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1546-1559, September.
    2. Ronald Weber Kirst & Miriam Borchardt & Maurício Nunes Macedo de Carvalho & Giancarlo Medeiros Pereira, 2021. "Best of the world or better for the world? A systematic literature review on benefit corporations and certified B corporations contribution to sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1822-1839, November.
    3. Silvia Blasi & Silvia Rita Sedita, 2022. "Mapping the emergence of a new organisational form: An exploration of the intellectual structure of the B Corp research," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 107-123, January.
    4. Leonardo Boni & Veronica Chiodo & Francesco Gerli & Laura Toschi, 2024. "Do prosocial‐certified companies walk the talk? An analysis of B Corps' contributions to Sustainable Development Goals," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2518-2532, March.
    5. Giorgio Mion & Cristian R. Loza Adaui, 2020. "Understanding the purpose of benefit corporations: an empirical study on the Italian case," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Giorgio Mion & Cristian Rolando Loza Adaui & Angelo Bonfanti, 2021. "Characterizing the mission statements of benefit corporations: Empirical evidence from Italy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2160-2172, May.
    7. Silvia Cantele & Chiara Leardini & Luca Piubello Orsini, 2023. "Impactful B Corps: A configurational approach of organizational factors leading to high sustainability performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1104-1120, May.
    8. Valerie Paelman & Philippe Van Cauwenberge & Heidi Vander Bauwhede, 2023. "Mission alignment with employees and financiers: Probing into the workings of B Corp certification," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1632-1644, July.
    9. Yeuseung Kim, 2021. "Certified corporate social responsibility? The current state of certified and decertified B Corps," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1760-1768, November.
    10. Iluminada Fuertes‐Fuertes & J. David Cabedo & José Miguel Tirado‐Beltrán, 2024. "How do hybrid organisations use socio‐environmental impact information? An exploratory analysis in European B corps," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 9181-9196, December.
    11. Luis Fonseca & Vitor Silva & José Carlos Sá & Vanda Lima & Gilberto Santos & Rui Silva, 2022. "B Corp versus ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications: Aligned, or alternative paths, towards sustainable development?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 496-508, May.
    12. Danilo Boffa & Antonio Prencipe & Armando Papa & Christian Corsi & Mario Sorrentino, 2023. "Boosting circular economy via the b-corporation roads. The effect of the entrepreneurial culture and exogenous factors on sustainability performance," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 523-561, June.
    13. Vincenzo Riso & Mouhcine Tallaki & Enrico Bracci & Silvia Cantele, 2024. "The transition towards benefit corporations: What are the roles for stakeholders?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 904-916, February.
    14. Bonfanti, Angelo & De Crescenzo, Veronica & Simeoni, Francesca & Loza Adaui, Cristian R., 2024. "Convergences and divergences in sustainable entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship research: A systematic review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    15. Silvia Cantele & Giacomo Troisi & Bettina Campedelli, 2021. "Le societ? Benefit in Italia: un?analisi sulla diffusione e sulle prassi di rendicontazione," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(2), pages 107-126.
    16. Victoravich, Lisa M. & Hamilton, Aimee L. & Kim, Sung Soo & Cohen, N. Andrew, 2023. "Reflections on the roles of governance and leadership in profit-for-purpose companies: A European–United States comparative perspective," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 337-344.
    17. Valerie Paelman & Philippe Van Cauwenberge & Heidi Vander Bauwhede, 2021. "The Impact of B Corp Certification on Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
    18. Federica Bandini & Helen Chiappini & Francesca Pallara, 2022. "Fund managers acting as impact investors: Strategies, practices, and tensions," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 1084-1095, July.
    19. Ine Paeleman & Nadja Guenster & Tom Vanacker & Ana Cristina O. Siqueira, 2024. "The Consequences of Financial Leverage: Certified B Corporations’ Advantages Compared to Common Commercial Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 507-523, January.
    20. Elsa Diez-Busto & Lidia Sanchez-Ruiz & Ana Fernandez-Laviada, 2021. "The B Corp Movement: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:32:y:2025:i:3:p:3729-3769. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1535-3966 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.