Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What is the B Corp certification process and timeline for drinks companies?
B Corp certification takes significant time to complete. The process typically takes **over a year**, with no way to speed it up despite B Corp working on shortening timelines and changing the whole process this year. Key requirements and tips from members: - **Written documentation** — have comprehensive written documents for everything, as this helps with validation during the accreditation process - **Score proximity matters** — if your current impact score is close to 80, certification may be challenging, as you'll likely lose a few points during the accrediting process and may fall short of the threshold - **No expedited contacts** — members confirmed there are no insider contacts or ways to speed things along Members recommend starting preparation early and being thorough with documentation, as the validation process is thorough and lengthy.
What is the process and requirements for obtaining B Corp certification as a non-UK entity or international company?
B Corp certification is achievable for non-UK entities. Members have successfully certified as international operations: **Avallen** is B Corp certified as Avallen Benelux in the Netherlands, and another member is pursuing certification as a US Corp with a UK subsidiary. The certification process requires: - **Initial application fee of £365** (current as of recent submissions) - Completion of the B Impact Assessment questionnaire - Meeting B Corp's governance and impact standards regardless of registration location Members note that the B Corp team appears to process applications from international entities without significant additional hurdles beyond the standard certification path. The key is confirming your legal entity structure (e.g., whether you're filing as a Benelux entity, US Corp, or other jurisdiction) at the point of application. No members raised specific complications with international certification, suggesting the process is straightforward once you've identified your official registered entity for the certification.