As announced last month, IDEHŌ now ranks among the certified B Corp companies in Quebec.
To date, only around fifty Quebec companies have managed to earn this certification, as prestigious as it is hard to obtain.
B Corp certification was a demanding, rigorous exercise that took us over a year of work to put everything in place in order to qualify — and you know what? We get to do it all over again in two years!
Why did we choose this path rather than another?
We were drawn to B Corp certification because it is not a paper certificate you hang on the wall like the others, but rather a way of working, a company philosophy and a continual commitment to improve, get involved and do better within your community, your environment and for your employees.
What is B Corp certification?
B = Benefit for all.
B Corp certification puts each of the social, environmental and economic pillars back at the heart of your company's choices. And these are sometimes difficult, but necessary, choices.
Each aspect is dissected and analysed, and responsibility is handed back to the company to take actionS — with a capital S — on questions of:
- Redistribution, fair and equitable, of revenue and not just profit; for employees as much as for the community.
- Accountability towards the diversity and inclusion of employees, but also towards the selection of suppliers and collaborators.
- Involvement, collective and individual, in eco-responsible choices.
- Consideration for a transparent, ethical management style focused on the financial, physical, professional and social well-being of its employees.
Does our core business need a direct link to protecting the environment or community well-being to qualify for B Corp certification?
Absolutely not, and we are the perfect example! At IDEHŌ, we do not plant trees — we provide consulting in technology and organisational transformation.
The real question is how we do it, with what intent, and with what outlook for the world around us. And in B Corp's eyes, that is where all the difference lies.
As a service company, taking action on the various pillars did not seem intuitive to us at first. How do you become eco-responsible when you produce no tangible goods? How do you stand out for the community or for employee well-being when you are an SME working mainly remotely?
Every organisation aspiring to B Corp certification must find its own balance between the different pillars and first build on its strengths.
In our case, our governance model, grounded in the principles of self-management and shared governance, allowed us to lay the foundations for a more responsible and ethical company. From there, all the other pillars became a journey of learning and awareness to evolve the company towards principles that are fairer, more open and more equitable in the distribution of its benefits — both monetary and in the way we allocate our time and resources.
Becoming a B Corp in turn…
Climbing mountains and earning B Corp certification works on much the same principle: a good dose of commitment, perseverance and humility, every step of the way!
- First step: Completing the "B Assessment" once, informally, is an excellent introspective exercise that also helps gauge the scope of the journey towards certification.
- Pride and prejudice: Do not be too critical of your organisation during the initial assessment. It is a process built for constant improvement, one that calls for commitment and change. Time is what will let you progress and see your improvements.
- Realism: Do not underestimate how long it takes to work on B Corp certification, nor the number of concrete, measurable actions that will be required throughout the journey.
- Support: Do not hesitate to get guidance and turn to the certified B Corp community for support, tips and tricks, and ideas to move forward in your journey. We personally joined a Boite Pac cohort to get guidance and exchange with other organisations throughout the certification process.
In short, the B Corp path lets you appreciate the organisation's transformation and feel proud at every milestone — not only at the finish line!
Here's to a good journey towards a responsible and conscious company.
