Sun, 29 Jun 2025

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 The global environmental award hit by accusations of greenwashing

US business Dr Bronner's has criticised the B Corp scheme for allowing in too many multinationals.

* Dr Bronner's, a California-based natural soap company, left B Corp certification scheme after 10 years due to concerns that it was too easy for large multinationals to join.
* The company accused B Corp of "enabling greenwashing and purpose washing" by allowing companies like Nespresso, owned by Nestlé, to obtain certification despite labor issues in their supply chain.
* Dr Bronner's cited its opposition to Nespresso's certification as a reason for leaving the scheme, stating that it was "unacceptable" to be lumped together with companies with histories of environmental and labor problems.
* B Corp responded by announcing new, more rigorous certification standards that will replace the current points system in 2026, which allows companies to make up for weaknesses in one area by excelling in others.
* The new standards will require companies to meet minimum requirements in seven key areas and undergo third-party verification of their performances.
* Chris Turner, CEO of B Lab UK, stated that the changes are aimed at raising the bar for businesses and making the certification more transparent and credible.
* Dr Bronner's has since launched its own rival scheme called Purpose Pledge, which requires companies to meet stricter standards on supply chain integrity, living wages, and accountability.
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