B Corps in Ireland: Sustainable Irish businesses as a force for good

Sustainable business practices have never been more under the microscope. As consumers increasingly recognise and reject ‘greenwashing’ efforts and expect more in the sustainability space from businesses, it’s more important than ever that efforts in this space are genuine and measurable.

That’s exactly what B Corporation certification (or B Corp) aims to endorse amongst the business community worldwide. In 2025, there are over 9,500 B Corps globally, and that number is growing rapidly. There are 65 Certified B Corps in Ireland, 16 in Northern Ireland and another 400 certified global brands that have a presence in Ireland.

What does being a certified B Corp mean?

To become certified, companies must go through B Lab’s rigorous assessment and verification processes to ensure they meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. This assesses beyond just a sustainability strategy, and extends into company governance, workforce, customers and community, alongside the environment.

'Business a force for good'

“B Corp Certification is all about using business as a force for good. What’s unique is that it's holistic so it doesn't just look at one area like environmental impact but it looks at the whole of the business,” explains James McManus, Director of B Lab Ireland. “Certified B Corps also commit to balancing profits with purpose. They're legally required to consider the impact of their decision on all stakeholders, not just shareholders.”

There has been an 82% year-on-year increase in the number of certified B Corps in Ireland in 2025. With a 15% growth in awareness of what B Corp certifications is in the last year, McManus thinks seeing is believing and that this is a driving factor in the increase in certifications.

'Doing good and doing well go hand in hand'

“Irish businesses are seeing that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand. On top of that, you have the climate crisis, social inequality and rising consumer awareness, which are all playing a role in that growth. Customers, employees and investors are all demanding more from companies - more transparency, more accountability and more impact,” he says.

B Corp keep an active directory of Irish certified companies, and provide a tool all businesses can use to measure their current practices and shortcomings against B Corp standards. “There are another 500 companies using our tool to measure and improve their impact, so we’re confident a lot of them will come through to become B Corps,” says McManus on the continued growth of certification in the Irish sector.

Strong entrepreneurial culture

He believes Ireland’s strong entrepreneurial culture also contributes to the number of companies seeking certification. “It's a movement for business leaders and entrepreneurs and our culture lends itself well to innovation, sustainability and social impact. Irish businesses are very agile and community-focused, and very often value-driven so it really is a very good fit. A lot of the companies [certified already] are family-owned or purpose driven anyway, and B Corp gives them ways to measure it, improve it and communicate it more effectively to their employees, customers and investors,” he says.

Recent Irish certified B Corp companies

There are over 160 industries represented across the 9,500 B Corps around the world. In Ireland, from McNutt of Donegal’s woollen mills to printmakers JANDO, Broadlake Investments to RDJ, a corporate law firm, and the Armada Hotel in West Clare to THINKHOUSE marketing agency, it’s clear that businesses in a wide variety of sectors have prioritised certification as well.

Amongst the 80 companies on the island of Ireland, McManus highlighted some case studies in excellent business practices and who have felt the benefits of having completed the certification process.

Bewley's Tea and Coffee

“Just going through a few, Bewley’s Tea and Coffee is a great example, as one of Ireland's best known brands. Certification is a really good fit for their culture and they've always been strong on purpose so for their clients, the fact that they can ensure their farmers get a fair price for their coffee with the least possible environmental impact is very important,” he says.

Riley

“Another is a really recent certification company called We Are Riley, an amazing Irish company who produce eco-friendly, toxin-free period care. Their mission is to make period care accessible to absolutely everyone, wherever or whenever they need it. They believe period care is a basic human need and should be provided in every bathroom, just like toilet paper and hand soap.”

Wicklow Wolf

“Finally, Wicklow Wolf. They’re a brewery and they're so passionate about their craft. They're obviously based in Wicklow and their mission is to brew exceptional beers without compromising, in a sustainable way, and the eco certification backs that claim up and allows them to really drive ahead with that mission,” says McManus.

Advantages of B Corp Certification

Because of the holistic nature of the B Corp assessment, those companies who achieve their certification have proved that their business practices meet set standards that offer reassurance and value to consumers, employees and investors alike.

“A recent Irish study showed that 93% of people believe CEOs and directors should be accountable for their company's social and environmental performance and 63% say business certifications influence their decisions and choosing where to buy where to buy products and services from, so your customer cares,” explains McManus.

'Work with a purpose'

“From a worker perspective, people nowadays aren't looking just for a paycheck, they want to find purpose in their work. A recent study by from B Corp in the UK found B Corps had an average staff attrition rate of 8% and that compared to 16% in the wider UK business population. Losing staff is a massive issue for businesses but B Corps don't experience the same level of disruption compared to non-B Corps,” explains McManus.

“Then, investors are really taking sustainability seriously when they're making investments. Companies without a baked in sustainability strategy and a clear mission in today's age are not futureproof and they're not built to last, so when investors see a company is B Corp certified, it gives them a lot of confidence in the environmental and social credentials of that company,” he continued.

A global certification with worldwide recognition

While there are numerous benefits to meeting B Corp standards, both in terms of business practices and how the business is perceived in the world, one that has proved particularly beneficial for Irish companies is the access to a global network.

Internationally recognised

“It’s an internationally recognised and respected certification, so and it opens up access to a global network and value-aligned partners. B Corp is very well known in the US, Canada and the UK so it really does help if you're if you're producing an Irish product or service, it sets you up to export and it differentiates Irish companies in a competitive global market, especially when it comes to ethics, transparency and sustainability,” says McManus. “It’s the signal of trust and credibility, whether you’re looking at procurement, supply chain or investment, it really helps stand you apart.”

For more information on B Corp Certification in Ireland or already certified Irish companies, visit B Corp Ireland’s website or follow their updates on LinkedIn.