First Communication Agency Secures B Corp Certification in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a Pioneer in Responsible Business Practices
In a significant stride towards sustainability and ethical business practices, Confident Agency, a full-service communications agency based in Bucharest and Barcelona, has become the first agency in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe to achieve international B Corp Certification.
The B Corp Certification, awarded by B Lab, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet, is a testament to Confident Agency's ongoing commitment to doing better and creating a culture of positive impact.
Confident Agency joins an international community of over 9,700 companies certified as B Corps, organizations that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. By the end of 2024, more than 2,000 companies in Europe had been certified as B Corps, representing a doubling in number in just two years.
The certification process for Confident Agency was guided by Corina Radu, CEO of Impact Market Romania and co-founder of Better Business Alliance - B, the B Corp representative in Romania. Impact Market Romania, founded in 2023, conducted Romania's first impact assessment for a local SME and guided Confident Agency through the B Corp Certification process.
Confident Agency's commitment to sustainability is further reinforced by Confident Impact, a business line dedicated to sustainability, led by Diana Dincă-Lupu as Head of Sustainability. Confident Impact offers full-service support for CSR and ESG solutions, including ESG audits, sustainability reporting, strategic communication, compliance support, training programs, carbon footprint tracking tools, and wellbeing certifications.
Partnering with a B Corp certified communications agency offers several benefits, particularly for organizations with strong social and environmental goals or those reporting under frameworks like GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), or ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).
1. **Commitment to Ethical and Sustainability Standards**: B Corp agencies are committed to high ethical standards, transparency, and accountability. This aligns well with the requirements of sustainability reporting frameworks like CSRD and ESRS, which demand detailed disclosure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. B Corps aim to align their operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that their communications strategies support broader social and environmental objectives.
2. **Expertise in Sustainability Reporting**: B Corp agencies are well-versed in the principles and practices that underpin sustainability reporting standards like GRI, CSRD, and ESRS. This expertise can help organizations effectively communicate their sustainability initiatives and impacts. B Corps can assist in integrating sustainability reporting with financial reporting, ensuring consistency and alignment across both areas, as required by regulations such as CSRD.
3. **Value Creation Beyond Profit**: B Corp certified agencies prioritize purpose alongside profit, which means they can help organizations craft communications that reflect their values and commitment to social and environmental causes. By partnering with a B Corp agency, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices and sustainability, potentially influencing stakeholders such as investors, customers, and employees positively.
4. **Access to a Global Network**: B Corp certification provides access to a network of like-minded businesses and professionals, facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing in sustainability and social impact initiatives.
By choosing a B Corp certified agency, organizations can partner with a team committed to high ethical and sustainability standards, particularly valuable for those with strong social/environmental goals or those reporting under frameworks such as GRI, CSRD, or ESRS. Currently, 11 Romanian companies across various industries, including retail, pharma, food, communications, tourism, cosmetics, and tech, are undergoing the BIA assessment process.
Mara Gojgar Constantin, founder of The Confident Group, stated that the B Corp Certification is a testament to their ongoing commitment to doing better and creating a culture of positive impact. "We are proud to join the B Corp community and look forward to collaborating with like-minded businesses to drive positive change in our industry and beyond," she said.
[1] B Lab. (2021). What is a B Corp? Retrieved from https://bcorporation.net/what-is-a-b-corp [2] European Commission. (2021). Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-digital-single-market/digital-single-market-strategy/business-environment-for-digital-growth/corporate-sustainability-reporting-directive_en [3] Global Reporting Initiative. (2021). GRI Standards. Retrieved from https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/the-gris/ [4] European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). (2021). Retrieved from https://www.esrs-reporting.eu/
- Confident Agency's B Corp Certification, achieved through the guidance of Impact Market Romania, demonstrates their foundational commitment to business practices that blend profit with positive social and environmental impact, thereby showcasing their alignment with technology, finance, and ethical business principles.
- By partnering with other B Corp certified agencies, as they expand their network, organizations can leverage expertise in technology, sustainable finance, and business strategies to drive innovation and progress towards a more sustainable future, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and various reporting frameworks such as GRI, CSRD, and ESRS.
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