Abstract
With the growing interest in ESG and SDGs, the number of B Corps, a certification system to support ESG management for unlisted companies originating in the United States, now exceeds 5,300 companies worldwide. However, only a few companies in Japan have yet to obtain B Corp certification. While empirical studies on B Corps are also increasing around the world, there are very few empirical studies on B Corps in Japan, partly due to the small number of certified companies. In this study, we interviewed six Japanese companies that have acquired B Corp, an international ESG certification for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and asked them to describe their experiences with B Corp certification. We then conducted a qualitative study of the results of these interviews to develop a model of corporate management activities toward certification. Specifically, we used a grounded theory approach to analyze the motivations and results of B Corp acquisition, as well as the evaluation of its effects and burdens on management, etc. We believe that this study provides a rare and original insight into the B Corp certification process in Japan by presenting an exploratory hypothetical model from a corporate management perspective.
