Ireland is the fastest growing country in the world for B Corp certifications. The B Corp certification is a valuable asset for businesses, helping employee retention and differentiating companies from their competitors globally reminding us just how powerful business can be when it’s used as a force for good.

B Lab Ireland hosted B Ag Caint yesterday an event that was packed with insightful TED-style talks and fireside chats featuring some of the most forward-thinking leaders in the B Corp Ireland movement.

Cathal Murphy from Bewley’s Coffee | B Corp kicked things off by sharing how their coffee producers in Comisyul planted shade trees over coffee trees which in turn brought back birds, reduced pesticide use, restored forests by 50%, and increased coffee production by 50%. This highlights how B Corp certification is not just about making products more sustainable and better for business but also about helping communities and fostering partnerships.

 Cathal Murphy, Bewelys Coffee

David Hartigan from Hemp Heros shared their hemp waste, called a ‘cake’ is used to make pet products, achieving 0% waste and a new product line. B Corp certification helped them differentiate from other international companies with only 15 other companies in his industry globally and has helped with their expansion into the US.

David Hartigan, Hemp Heros

Noelle O’Connor from The Kind Brand Company emphasised that true sustainability is measured, not marketed. Real change is not about words on packaging but about accountability of what’s inside your product, how its made and how its sold. She said that the reaction to their B Corp certification has been overwhelmingly positive.

Noelle O’Connor, The Kind Company

Claire Hyland from THINKHOUSE led the fireside chat.

Brian Reid from DELI LITES IRELAND explained that B Corp certification helps align staff and customers with the company’s vision and purpose. It may not make scaling easier, but it makes the company better. Authenticity is crucial, and they found that when you change your articles of association to include sustainability it is then a part of every board meeting agenda, which is essential.

Fireside Chat Panel: Brian Reid, Julie Strelzow, Daragh Anglim

Julie Strelzow from STRONG ROOTS shared how mapping out the food miles with each product led to savings in production and carbon outputs, a win for the environment and the business. A bottom-up approach to impact encouraged weekly ideas from people on the ground which made their business more sustainable. McCain’s acquisition of Strong Roots demonstrates how B Corp certification can set a business up for success and appeal to businesses, customers, and investors alike.

Our Head of Impact Daragh Anglim emphasised that building a business without sustainability is not building a business for the future. He spoke passionately about our #3X10X ambition – growing three times the size while making ten times the impact. He highlighted how embedding sustainability into business is no longer an option—it’s the only way forward, and how Broadlake’s dedication to B Corp values has driven talent attraction and business growth across our group.

With 96% of B Corps being SMEs, starting with a passionate working group is crucial. Younger people are increasingly aligning their values with companies, making B Corp certification globally recognised with local impact.

Event organiser Aideen O Neill from Verve The Live Agency | B Corp suggests taking the free B assessment to get started on the B Corp journey or sign up to the B Corp monthly newsletter.

Hopefully see you at the next B Corp event!