We are a B Corp!
We are working towards a healthy financial future that at the same time makes our environment better. We put our money where our mouth is and try to be just a little bit better every day. And that we are doing so well has now also been recognised: as of today, we can call ourselves a B Corp!
What is B Corp?
In a nutshell: companies that are committed to solving the major issues of today. Taking that responsibility whenever possible and being able to show results. In addition to profit. B Corps are companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
There are about 8,500 companies worldwide with B Corp certification. In the Netherlands there are more then 290 companies, with such names as Triodos Bank, Danone and Swapfiets.
Why are we doing this?
Because we find it extremely important to look beyond mere profit. As a pension administrator, we are involved in the future like no one else. We want to make a difference and contribute in a healthy way. We do this through our services, where sustainability is central. Like in our investments, with which we can make a great deal of impact. We try to set a good example with our business operations, and the B Corp certification confirms that we are on the right track. It encourages us – and hopefully others – to do even better.
B Corp is not something you just get to be
To be certified, you must meet sky-high standards in governance, employee policy, environment, community and customers. As a company, you have to be intrinsically motivated to truly contribute. Otherwise, you simply don’t make the cut. When we embarked on this journey more than a year ago, we knew we had to take a good, hard look in the mirror. Putting sustainability front and centre was already a given for us, but as it turned out, we weren’t properly documenting it all. We made several improvements this past year and in the end we scored no less than 95 points in the B Corp assessment. We are immensely proud of that!
The highlights
Governance
We score very high on ethics and transparency in particular. That dovetails beautifully with our clear and simple product – and our name, of course!
We encourage all employees in the assessment cycle to reflect on how they can contribute to sustainability within BeFrank. It is inspiring to see how everyone is committed to this.
Employees
We take good care of our employees. We invest in the mental well-being of people with workshops on work-life balance, sleep and willpower. And we take on fun physical challenges together.
We express appreciation for each other on a regular basis, not just when someone leaves us. You can see that reflected in the high satisfaction scores, of which we are very proud!
Community
Our teams are made up of a variety of backgrounds and cultures, something that our two diversity coaches work hard to achieve. After all, we believe that more diversity within teams leads to a broader and better view of things.
Team outings increasingly involve activities that give something back to society; good for society, good for team spirit.
This is not our destination
While the certification is a testament to the work we’ve already done, it’s not where we leave things off; there will always be something left to improve. As far as B Lab (the foundation behind B Corp) is concerned, you are tested again every three years. Only companies that score more than 80 out of 200 points keep their status. We still have a lot of ideas and can’t wait to get started with them!
Want to know more?
Want to know more about the certification and our results? Check out the B Corp website or our full Assessment.
Do you have any questions on this subject? Then email joy.hofman@befrank.nl and she will be happy to tell you more.
