B-Corp certification is deservedly growing in popularity. We’ve compiled a handy overview to help you get your website design B-Corp ready.
B-Corp in a nutshell
Certified B Corporations, often referred to as ‘B-Corps’are businesses that prioritise a responsible approach to how they do things, from being eco-friendly and socially responsible to being upfront with their transparency and accountability.
To obtain B Corporation certification, a company first completes an online assessment. The assessment evaluates the company’s impact across governance, workers, community, environment, and its products or services. Points are allocated based on the relevance to a company’s industry, location, and workforce size.
If you are going for B-Corp certification and have a website then, your website design should not be overlooked in your journey toward B-Corp success. With more and more of our clients looking to achieve B-Corp status, we felt it would be useful to put together a quick handy guide to help you make sure your website design is on track.
“B Corp certification turns the ambiguous concepts of “going green” or “being a good corporate citizen” into something tangible and measurable that people can identify, trust, and support.”
B-Corp and website design
When it comes to aligning your website with B-Corp you should look to align core areas with your mission. These specifically relate to the functionality of the site, messaging, and its environmental impact, areas that are often overlooked. Whilst there isn’t a set of rules as such, overarching B-corp principles should be applied to key areas of your website. These areas include the following:
Transparency and Accountability: First off, ensure that your website is transparent in communicating your messaging around your B-Corp status, mission, values, and impact. Clearly communicate your commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This should be integrated into your B-Corp website design. Provide informative, engaging, and accurate content that educates visitors about your B-Corp’s mission, values, and impact. This helps build trust and credibility.
Sustainability: While there are no specific web design standards related to sustainability for B-Corps, you can follow sustainable web design practices to reduce the environmental impact of your website. This includes optimising code and images for faster loading times, choosing an eco-friendly web hosting provider (we can help you), and minimising energy consumption.
Accessibility: Follow web accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to ensure that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Accessibility aligns with the inclusive values of B-Corps.
Ethical Marketing: When promoting your B-Corp on your website, avoid greenwashing and use honest, ethical marketing practices. Ensure that your claims about social and environmental responsibility are accurate and transparent.
Data Privacy: Comply with data privacy regulations, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), if applicable, to protect the privacy of your website visitors’ data.
User Experience (UX): User-friendly design and navigation to enhance the overall user experience. A positive user experience reflects well on your commitment to customer satisfaction, which is important for B-Corp website design.
While these are general web design standards that any responsible business should consider, they are particularly relevant when showcasing your commitment to ethical and sustainable practices on your website.
In summary
It’s essential to align your web presence with your B-Corp values and principles to demonstrate your dedication to using business as a force for good. It’s also important to highlight that while optimising your site for faster loading times is desirable, it’s equally crucial not to compromise the core essence of your website in pursuit of B-Corp alignment.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and the approach you choose should be tailored to your website’s unique goals, objectives, and content. This is why it is best to seek advice from an experienced digital design agency (like Above Digital) to ensure you meet B-Corp with a minimal impact on the overall user experience.
As a digital design agency, Above Digital has worked closely and collaborated with a variety of clients to integrate their B-Corp principles seamlessly through bespoke website design, enabling us to strategise and develop eco-friendly, inclusive web solutions that align with core brand principles.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can support you in getting your website design B-Corp ready, please get in touch.
