Sustainable Entrepreneurship and B Corps. (31st August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stubbs, Wendy
• Is Part Of: Business strategy and the environment. Volume 26:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2016-08-31
• Subjects: B Corp -- entrepreneurship -- hybrid organization -- sustainable development -- sustainable business model; Industrial management -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Industries -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 658.4083
• DOI: 10.1002/bse.1920
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-4733

Abstract

Abstract: Sustainable entrepreneurship contributes to solving social and environmental problems through the means of successful for‐profit businesses. This paper contributes to understanding how sustainable entrepreneurship is implemented by exploring an emerging new form of business, 'B Corps', that employs market tactics to address social and environmental issues. Through interviewing 14 B Corps, the exploratory research study found that B Corps treat profit as a means to achieve positive societal ends, they regard the B Corp model as a tool for change, the B Corp model provides a common collective identity for internal and external validation, they are focused on societal impact rather than maximizing profits and they attempt to legitimate this form of sustainable entrepreneurship by influencing the business community and government officials. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment