B Corp certification: what is it and why it matters

When we hear that a company is a B Corp, we often associate it with being “good”. However, we are often unaware of what it specifically entails. The B Corporation certification is a way to measure the social and environmental impact that a company has on the world. The network that certifies B Corps, known as B Lab, continuously works to improve the certification standards to ensure they align with current preoccupations. Its approach to the certification is holistic, meaning it doesn’t only focus on one social or environmental issue but rather address a plurality of current concerns.

The certification process is an extensive procedure that varies depending on, among other things, the revenue and size of the company. It can take 6 to 8 months for smaller and medium sized businesses to receive their certification and even longer for larger multinationals. Companies that are already certified must complete the verification process every three years to maintain their certification.

Foundation Requirements vs Performance Requirements

To acquire the B Corp certification, companies must meet a wide range of requirements. These conditions are divided into two categories: Foundation Requirements and Performance Requirements. The first category covers criterias that businesses must respect to be eligible for the certification. They are based on the core, or foundation, of a company. The second category regroup requirements that are based on a company’s performance and is divided into nine subcategories to create a complete assessment of a business. Here is a breakdown of each with concrete examples of actions companies can take to achieve a high score and obtain their certification:

Purpose & Stakeholder Governance

The company must operate with a clear purpose, promoting an inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic system that benefits all people and the planet. To achieve this goal, the B Corp must considers and involves its stakeholders in decision-making by conducting regular engagement meetings to set goals on social and/or environmental issues. Progress toward these goals must be monitored and reported publicly on an annual basis, and worker’s perceptions of the company’s strategy must be measured at least once every two years.

Workplace Culture

The workplace culture of a B Corp must enhance the workers’ sense of satisfaction, belonging, shared purpose, psychological safety, engagement and happiness. To achieve these feelings, the company must establish a shared purpose and seek ongoing dialogue with its workers. To gain feedback, the B Corp must set in place at least one vertical and one horizontal communication channel and provide all workers, or their elected representatives, with a channel for direct communication with the highest leadership individuals in the organization. The workplace culture must also be measured qualitatively and quantitatively by workers annually in an anonymous manner and a plan must be developed in response to that feedback.

Fair Wages

B Corporations must provide a minimum wage that is 20% higher than the minimum wage set by the government to ensure a decent standard of living for every worker. To provide transparency to employees, the leadership must inform them of how they determined their wage, which benefits employees are entitled to and disclose the salary range and any gender wage gaps. If there is a wage gap between genders, the company must work to reduce that gap.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

To ensure that their businesses are inclusive, the leadership of B Corps must implement at least one hour-long discussion or survey per year to receive feedback from workers on their actions to promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Actions such as increasing the proportion of people from underrepresented groups in the leadership and executive teams, respecting inclusive hiring practices and providing additional types of paid leave beyond the legal minimum must be taken to reflect and respect the team’s diversity.

Human Rights

In addition to respecting human rights for their employees, B Corps must be aware of the origin of their raw materials and consider the potential negative impacts on human rights caused by the use of high-risk raw materials.

Climate Action

To receive a B Corporation certification, businesses must take actions backed by science to combat climate change. For example, companies must measure their greenhouse gas emissions and their results must be verified by an independent third party. Based on these results, they then need to set an action plan to contribute to reaching the global net-zero GHG emissions target by 2050 and publicly disclose their progress regarding that plan each year.

Environmental Stewardship & Circularity

B Corporations demonstrate their commitment to managing their environmental impact by monitoring the consequences of their operations and by implementing sustainable initiatives. They track waste production and disposal, energy and water consumption and assess their proximity to any biodiversity-sensitive areas. Their environmental records are verified by a third party and a plan of action is developed to continuously improve circularity in product development, reduce the usage of virgin non-renewable materials and implement any other environmental actions that might improve the company’s environmental impact.

Government Affairs & Collective Action

B Corporations are required to engage in at least one collective social or environmental action at a policy, industry and/or business community level and to invest in collaborative research beyond their operations to develop sector-specific social or environmental solutions.

Complementary Impact Topics

Companies that embark in the B Corporation certification process are strongly encouraged to measure and improve a broader set of impacts from their business in addition to the topics outlined by B Corp standards.

Companies such as Frank and Oak, Ganni, Kotn, Tekla, Sézane and Goodee are part of the 9 257 businesses* who are certified as a B Corporation. These businesses share the values of the B Lab regroupement and constantly strive on improving their way of doing business. Visit their website or the B Corp directory to discover more on the actions they take to improve the wellbeing of individuals and of our planet.

Disclaimer

The information in this text is based on research done via the B Corp website. To learn more and get the latest updates, visit bcorporation.net

*9 257 businesses were certified B Corps in date of January 14th 2025. This number may vary with time.

Types of tiles

Ceramic tiles

When we think of tiles, ceramic often comes first in our mind. These tiles widely used in homes are made of a mix of clay, sand and water. After being molded into their final shape, the tiles are fired in a kiln—a type of oven used in the production process of tiles, which significantly reduces the amount of humidity in them. This process results in beautiful, colourful pieces of various shapes and sizes we can then use to enhance the beauty of our walls and floors.

Ceramic tiles are usually more affordable than others types of tiles. Their lower density makes them easier to cut and less heat-absorbent, making them ideal for hotter climates as they remain cooler for longer periods of time. However, due to their lower density and more porous nature, ceramic tiles tend to show greater variation in texture and have higher water absorption rates. As a result, they are more suitable for wall installation rather than flooring.

Porcelain tiles

Porcelain tiles are a specialized type of ceramic tile. While still being made out of clay, they are made from a much finer type that results in a more compact material when pressed into molds. Additionally, porcelain tiles are subjected to much higher pressures during production and fired in the kiln for longer periods of time and at higher temperatures. This extensive process eliminates almost all moisture in the tiles, creating harder and denser surfaces. As a result, porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic tiles and are more appropriate for flooring applications.

Another advantage of porcelain tiles is that their production is regulated by the ASTM International standards (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials). These standards, among other things, specify that porcelain tiles must have a water absorption rate of 0,5% or lower, making them ideal for bathrooms and other usage in humid and wet environments. If considering tiles for an outdoor use, porcelain tiles are an excellent option.

It’s important however to distinguish the two different types of porcelain tiles. The first one being glazed on their surfaces enhancing variety in colors and patterns. While glazing offers more opportunities in terms of creativity, it isn’t entirely safe from any damages that might occurs under heavy impact. To prevent any major consequences on the aesthetic appearance of the tile after a fissure, some glazed tiles are designed with a porcelain base that matches the tone of the glaze reducing the visibility of imperfections. Although glazed porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic tiles, it is essential to verify the abrasion resistance of the considered tile before deciding on its application. This can be confirmed by verifying the tile’s score on the PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) scale, which ranges from PEI 1 to PEI 5, PE1 being the less resistant tiles and PE5 being the most resistant.

A porcelain tile can also be classified as a full-body tile. These tiles are made of a mixture of clay, sand and other natural minerals without a glaze on their surfaces making them increasingly more resistant to scratching and chipping. Their lack of glaze means that they are less slippery making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms floor as well as commercial flooring.

Porcelain tiles are therefore more durable than a ceramic tiles and can be used in a wider range of settings. However, due to their increased density, they can be more challenging to cut and are typically more expensive than ceramic tiles.

Zellige tiles

Zellige tiles are another type of tile made out of clay. However, their production process is far more artisanal. Traditionally, the clay used for zellige tiles is sourced from a city in northern Morocco called Fez. After being extracted, the clay is molded into blocks and hardened by the Moroccan sun. The blocks are then hand-cut into tiles and either dipped in a glaze by hand or left natural. The handmade glazing process offers a greater risk of variation in the thickness of the coating. Once glazed, the tiles are placed in a beehive kiln—an ancient, conical-shaped kiln—to dry. The heat within the kiln is traditionally fueled by olive branches. The placement of the tiles inside the kiln affects the color of each and every tile in the batch, adding to the uniqueness of every piece.

The handcrafted process of making zellige tiles results in a final product composed of individually unique tiles, each showcasing variations in color, glazing and texture. While some may view these variations as the weakness of zellige, we consider them to be the beauty of these tiles. If you appreciate materials that developed a patina over time, zellige tiles is a perfect choice for you. Although they may chip and crack, and their edges might not be perfectly even, the tiles undeniably reflect an exceptional craftsmanship that stands the test of time. It’s important to note that the color of the glaze on zellige tiles will vary depending on the type of lighting and time of day, particularly in natural light.

Because high-quality zellige tiles are handcrafted using traditional methods, they tend to be more expensive and will require a professional installer to ensure the quality of the final application. An experienced installer will carefully ‘map’ the tiles to blend their natural variations seamlessly across the overall surface. They will also apply a penetrating sealer or grout release to minimize the risk of grout staining the tiles during the installation. Though the installation process requires time and patience, the end result is a beautiful, timeless creation, well worth the money and effort.

Natural stone tiles

Natural stone, often used in slab form, is a timeless material that has been valued for centuries. When cut into tiles, it offers a more textured and refined alternative to slab surfaces, often lending a more classic, less contemporary aesthetic to a space. Natural stone tiles are available in a range of materials, including marble, travertine and limestone, and come in various finishes such as polished, honed, tumbled, flamed and brushed.

Natural stone tiles are more practical than slabs thanks to their reduced size and lighter weight, making them generally more affordable . They are also more suited for flooring, as the grout joints improve slip resistance, especially when treated with a sealant. The hard and durable material makes them ideal for both interior and exterior use. These tiles tends to stay cool, making them perfect for projects in warmer climates, while pairing well with a radiant heating system in colder environments.

The challenge with natural stone is that it will aged over time if not properly treated—yet this aging process is part of the charm and natural beauty of this material. However, it is generally more expensive than other type of tiles.

Cement tiles

In the mid-19th century, Spanish artisans pioneered the use of fine cement powder to create a new type of tile—cement tiles. By pressing the powder into molds and allowing the tiles to cure and harden, Catalan craftsmen developed a durable surface suitable in various settings for both walls and floors. Drawing inspiration from Moorish traditions, they introduced removable metal dividers called trepa, which were inserted in the molds. The divisions were filled with different pigments to create vibrant, long-lasting patterns. The renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi incorporated cement tiles into many of his projects, and after the 1867 International exposition in Paris, these tiles gained popularity across Europe and soon after spread to European colonies.

Cement tiles create a colourful, durable surface ideal for high-traffic areas, making them perfect for commercial projects. Their patterns and colors stand the test of time thanks to their pigments being mixed directly into the cement rather than being applied unto their surface only.

However, cement tiles will develop a patina over time, even when sealed. Their colors may darken or fade if outdoors and details may become less distinct. Because their surface is more porous than a glazed ceramic or porcelain tile, they are more susceptible to stains and chips. Like zellige tiles, cement tiles should be installed by an experienced professional who will carefully map them out to blend any variations in tone and saturation. Caution is also necessary when cleaning cement tiles to avoid any chemical stains. The beauty of cement tiles resides in their natural appearance, and when properly installed and maintained, they can last a lifetime.

Disclaimer

The information in this text is sourced from articles on Clé Tile, Centura and Home Depot websites, as well as from personal knowledge and discussions with professionals.