Klima is officially a B Corp!

The driving force behind our work at Klima is to create positive impact for people and the planet, by empowering everyone to take immediate and effective climate action. Today, we're proud to announce that we've been recognized for our efforts and are now a certified B Corporation. We're joining a community of over 4,000 companies around the globe, all working to create a better world. Here’s what this certification means, and why it matters to us. 

What is a B Corp?

B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose with profit. The B stands for “benefit” and refers to a company’s commitment to generate long-term value for employees, the community, and the planet.

A B Corp Certification is an internationally-recognized validation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency. Companies that apply for a B Corp Certification are questioned on several aspects of their business, from career development and diversity within the company, to supply chain operations, impact measurement, and emissions reduction. In a nutshell, every company that intends to become a certified B Corp needs to:

• Demonstrate a high commitment to create social and environmental impact through the company’s mission and operations. Applicants need to achieve a score of 80 or above in the B Impact Assessment, a questionnaire whose goal is to test the company’s performance in five impact areas (governance, workers, community, environment, and customers). Klima scored well above average with 105.4 points, an achievement we’re very proud of and will keep improving on.

• Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders — including workers, communities, customers, suppliers, and the environment — rather than shareholders only. According to B Lab (the NGO behind the B Corp certification), profit maximization is often the driving force behind corporate decision making. This mainly benefits shareholders and business owners and tends to hinder the creation of long-term value for all stakeholders involved. That’s why applicants are asked to commit to a stakeholder-focused governance model.

• Make the Impact Assessment score publicly available on the B Lab’s website. Impact transparency has always been a key pillar of Klima’s mission. You can check the official B Corp directory to see how we performed in the assessment process.

• Have a deep-rooted social or environmental mission and a legally binding responsibility to care for the interests of workers, the community, and the environment, as well as the company’s shareholders.  

How did we achieve this?

Our entire business is built to help the planet and inspire individuals to act as a force for good. Not only does Klima empower everyone to take climate action right now, but it also fosters a sustainable future for those generations that will bear the consequences of our actions. 

What’s more, the climate projects we work with create long-term value for communities and ecosystems around the world. They restore natural habitats that are vital to both people and biodiversity, phase out toxic open-fire cooking by providing clean cookstoves, and foster green innovation and energy sovereignty in coal-heavy energy systems.

When it comes to our team, we’ve built policies that boost employees’ wellbeing, accompany them in their career growth, and provide them with a healthy work-life balance. Klima also balances out the team’s emissions, encourages them to replace planes with trains by giving them an extra day off, and provides them with a free bike subscription and public transport ticket. The happier our team, the more we can do for the climate! 

Why does this matter?

From the very beginning, Klima’s mission was to create an impact-driven business and a genuinely effective and empowering tool for everyone to take climate action in their own hands. Applying to become a B Corp seemed therefore a logical decision to make. We’re so glad we finally reached this huge milestone — although we’re only at the start of the journey.

This is the time for businesses to lead by example and act as a force for good to ensure this planet can remain a hospitable home for everyone. Companies should no longer be money-making machines solely focused on profits and growth, but catalysts for sustainable development. And that’s why we became a B Corp. We believe in a business model that creates long-term impact and bakes sustainable practices into our DNA.

We couldn't have done this without the incredible Klima community by our side. Thank you all for the constant feedback and support!