Social Media Agency Naturally Social has announced today its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. Naturally Social, based in Corsham, has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.

Naturally Social is now part of a community of 6,279 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 1,100 companies and include well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.

Recent attention on ethical marketing practices makes Naturally Social’s B Corp certification a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector.

Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says “We are delighted to welcome Naturally Social to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Naturally Social are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.

“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming Naturally Social is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the social media industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support them in paving the way for a new way of doing things”.

Natalie Sherman, Founder & Director of Naturally Social said: “Being able to announce that Naturally Social is part of the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Our commitment to doing business differently will  hopefully be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit”.

There are currently over 1,100 B Corps in the UK and 6,279 worldwide.