{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T12:56:09Z","timestamp":1776862569800,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,6]],"date-time":"2022-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1651795200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"FCT\u2014Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/04728\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04728\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Currently, certification is an essential tool for a company\u2019s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly of the United Nations, namely: environment, community, workers, customers, and governance. Nevertheless, it is essential that academic research should empirically assess the B Corp model\u2019s reliability for its validation and legitimization. In this study, we address the results of the B Impact Assessment of 2262 companies certified by B Corp from the beginning of 2017 to March 2021. The main objective is to analyze the B Impact Assessment, verifying the robustness and consistency of the model to measure and improve the economic, social, and environmental impact of companies. We analyzed the construct\u2019s validity through a confirmatory factorial analysis using AMOS statistical software. The results allowed us to identify some weaknesses and limitations of the B Impact Assessment. This certification system reflects an unadjusted model where the main assessment indicators have problems with regard to the measurement scale. The governance and customer indicators are the most vulnerable. The findings also allow us to state that there are apparently no minimum values established for each of the parameters evaluated, which may cause imbalances in the sustainable development process of B Corp companies. This research contributes to enhancing B Impact Assessment as a sustainability tool, highlighting areas for improvement concerning the indicators\u2019 measurement scales and the assessment process, including the monitoring of evaluators.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su14095590","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,8]],"date-time":"2022-05-08T23:27:25Z","timestamp":1652052445000},"page":"5590","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["B Impact Assessment as a Sustainable Tool: Analysis of the Certification Model"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"V\u00edtor","family":"Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Engineering, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9242-7092","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanda","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIICESI, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gest\u00e3o, Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2228-5348","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Carlos","family":"S\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Engineering, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5668-0656","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Fonseca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Engineering, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9268-3272","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gilberto","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Design School, Polytechnic Institute Cavado Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"35","article-title":"ISO 14001:2015: An improved tool for sustainability","volume":"8","author":"Fonseca","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Ind. Eng. Manag."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e3906","DOI":"10.1590\/0104-530x3906-19","article-title":"ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015: Analyse the relationship between these management systems standards and corporate sustainability","volume":"26","author":"Ferreira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Gest. Prod."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4282","DOI":"10.3390\/su12104282","article-title":"The influence of ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 on sustainable supply chain management in the textile industry","volume":"12","author":"Zimon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"496","DOI":"10.1002\/csr.2214","article-title":"B Corp versus ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications: Aligned, or alternative paths, towards sustainable development?","volume":"29","author":"Fonseca","year":"2021","journal-title":"Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"(2021, January 30). B Corporation, Certified B Corporation. Available online: https:\/\/bcorporation.net\/."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"937","DOI":"10.1007\/s10490-018-9623-7","article-title":"The economic consequences of business sustainability initiatives","volume":"36","author":"Lau","year":"2019","journal-title":"Asia Pacific J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paelman, V., van Cauwenberge, P., and Bauwhede, H.V. (2021). The impact of B corp certification on growth. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13137191"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Diez-Busto, E., Sanchez-Ruiz, L., and Fernandez-Laviada, A. (2021). The B corp movement: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13052508"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) (1987). Our Common Future, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"United Nations (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1017\/S0376892900011449","article-title":"The Concept of Sustainable Economic Development","volume":"14","author":"Barbier","year":"1987","journal-title":"Environ. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"681","DOI":"10.1007\/s11625-018-0627-5","article-title":"Three pillars of sustainability: In search of conceptual origins","volume":"14","author":"Purvis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sustain. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Freeman, R.E. (1984). Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach, Pitman."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"7","article-title":"Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Theory: Learning From Each Other","volume":"1","author":"Freeman","year":"2017","journal-title":"Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"144","article-title":"Stakeholders satisfaction and sustainable success","volume":"24","author":"Fonseca","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Ind. Syst. Eng."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"99","article-title":"Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage","volume":"17","author":"Barney","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Di Maggio, P.J., and Powell, W.W. (2000). The iron cage revisited institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. Economics Meets Sociology in Strategic Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.701","article-title":"Sustainable Development and Certification Practices: Lessons Learned and Prospects","volume":"20","author":"Boiral","year":"2011","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paelman, V., van Cauwenberge, P., and Bauwhede, H.V. (2020). Effect of B corp certification on short-term growth: European evidence. Sustainability, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12208459"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Poponi, S., Colantoni, A., Cividino, S.R.S., and Mosconi, E.M. (2019). The Stakeholders\u2019 perspective within the B corp certification for a circular approach. Sustainability, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/su11061584"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1583","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.2334","article-title":"What does targeting ecological sustainability mean for company financial performance?","volume":"28","author":"Zhou","year":"2019","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rankin, C.P., and Matthews, T.L. (2020). Patterns of B Corps Certification: The Role of Institutional, Economic, and Political Resources. Societies, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/soc10030072"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusvent.2018.01.003","article-title":"Imprinting with purpose: Prosocial opportunities and B Corp certification","volume":"33","author":"Moroz","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ventur."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2294","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2015.0416","article-title":"Hidden badge of honor: How contextual distinctiveness affects category promotion among certified b corporations","volume":"60","author":"Gehman","year":"2017","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1445","DOI":"10.1002\/csr.1897","article-title":"Consumer motivations to purchase from benefit corporations (B Corps)","volume":"27","author":"Bianchi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, G., S\u00e1, J.C., F\u00e9lix, M., Barreto, L., Carvalho, F., Doiro, M., Zgodavov\u00e1, K., and Stefanovi\u0107, M. (2021). New needed quality management skills for quality managers 4.0. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13116149"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107563","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2019.107563","article-title":"Legitimacy in operations: How sustainability certification announcements by Chinese listed enterprises influence their market value?","volume":"224","author":"Feng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Villela, M., Bulgacov, S., and Morgan, G. (2019). B Corp Certification and Its Impact on Organizations Over Time. J. Bus. Ethics, ahead of print.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10551-019-04372-9"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1705","DOI":"10.1002\/pa.1705","article-title":"Greening of business: A step towards sustainability","volume":"18","author":"Viswanathan","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Public Aff."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.2478\/bsrj-2020-0012","article-title":"Green Practices as a Path towards the Sustainability: Evidence from Portuguese Companies","volume":"11","author":"Alves","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bus. Syst. Res. J."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-41429-0_21","article-title":"Lean Green\u2014The Importance of Integrating Environment into Lean Philosophy\u2014A Case Study","volume":"122","author":"Silva","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lect. Notes Netw. Syst."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nigri, G., and del Baldo, M. (2018). Sustainability reporting and performance measurement systems: How do small- and medium- sized benefit corporations manage integration?. Sustainability, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/su10124499"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2712","DOI":"10.1002\/csr.1995","article-title":"Towards sustainable development: Evolution of corporate sustainability in multinational firms","volume":"27","author":"Derqui","year":"2020","journal-title":"Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusvent.2017.12.001","article-title":"Positively deviant: Identity work through B Corporation certification","volume":"33","author":"Grimes","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ventur."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"1055","article-title":"Perception of the importance to implement ISO 9001 in organizations related to people linked to quality\u2014An empirical study","volume":"13","author":"Amaral","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Qual. Res."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1007\/s10551-018-4091-z","article-title":"State Pension Funds and Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Beneficiaries\u2019 Political Values Influence Funds\u2019 Investment Decisions?","volume":"165","author":"Hoepner","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.69864\/ijbsam.15-1.135","article-title":"The relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee engagement-a social exchange perspective","volume":"15","author":"Memon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Bus. Sci. Appl. Manag."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2751","DOI":"10.1002\/csr.1999","article-title":"Socially responsible investing worldwide: Do markets value corporate social responsibility?","volume":"27","author":"Cortez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"136","article-title":"Strategic Drivers for Implementing Sustainability Programs in Portuguese Organizations\u2013Let\u2019s Listen to Aristotle: From Triple to Quadruple Bottom Line","volume":"8","author":"Fonseca","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sustain. J. Rec."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1080\/14783363.2020.1829969","article-title":"A model of integration ISO 9001 with Lean six sigma and main benefits achieved","volume":"33","author":"Vaz","year":"2022","journal-title":"Total Qual. Manag. Bus. Excell."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129047","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.129047","article-title":"Connecting lean and green with sustainability towards a conceptual model","volume":"322","author":"Teixeira","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Quivy, R., and van Campenhoudt, L. (1998). Manual de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias Sociais, Gradiva. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Hair, J.F., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., and Anderson, R.E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis\u2014A Global Perspective, Pearson Education. [7th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Mar\u00f4co, J. (2010). An\u00e1lise de Equa\u00e7\u00f5es Estruturais\u2014Fundamentos Te\u00f3ricos, Software e Aplica\u00e7\u00f5es, ReportNumber, Lda."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Byrne, B.M., Taylor, R., and York, N. (2010). Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS. Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming, Taylor & Francis. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1037\/a0014694","article-title":"Reporting Practices in Confirmatory Factor Analysis: An Overview and Some Recommendations","volume":"14","author":"Jackson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Psychol. Methods"},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Kline, R.B. (1998). Principles and Practices of Structural Equation Modelling, Guilford Press. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.3758\/s13428-018-1055-2","article-title":"RMSEA, CFI, and TLI in structural equation modeling with ordered categorical data: The story they tell depends on the estimation methods","volume":"51","author":"Xia","year":"2019","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"Pestana, M.H., and Gageiro, J.N. (2008). An\u00e1lise de Dados para Ci\u00eancias Sociais. A Complementaridade do SPSS, Edi\u00e7\u00f5es S\u00edlabo. [5th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128380","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.128380","article-title":"Certified B corporations: An approach to tensions of sustainable-driven hybrid business models in an emerging economy","volume":"317","author":"Tabares","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"Fonseca, L. (2021). The EFQM 2020 model. A theoretical and critical review. Total Qual. Manag. Bus. Excell., 1\u201328."}],"container-title":["Sustainability"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/14\/9\/5590\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T23:06:59Z","timestamp":1760137619000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/14\/9\/5590"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,6]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5]]}},"alternative-id":["su14095590"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su14095590","relation":{},"ISSN":["2071-1050"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2071-1050","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,6]]}}}