The B Corp movement stands at a critical inflection point, with growing urgency to move beyond certification and toward true systems change in business and society.
Marcello Palazzi, civic economist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of B Lab Europe, joins Ryan Honeyman to reflect on the evolution of the B Corp movement and what it will take to realize its original ambitions. Drawing on decades of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Marcello explores how business can better align innovation with social and environmental progress, and why the need for this work has only intensified.
Together, they examine where the movement has gained traction and where it has fallen short, particularly in driving change at a systemic level. Marcello shares candid insights on the limitations of current frameworks, the importance of legal structures like benefit corporations, and the need for stronger collaboration across business, government, and education. The conversation also looks ahead, highlighting opportunities to scale impact, strengthen community, and reimagine the role of business in shaping a more inclusive and regenerative economy.
Tune and reconsider what it will take for the B Corp movement to fulfill its promises and help shape a more inclusive and regenerative economy.
What You’ll Learn:
- Learn why the need for purpose-driven business has intensified over the past two decades.
- Understand where the B Corp movement has fallen short in driving systems-level change.
- Explore the role of legal structures like benefit corporations in shaping responsible business.
- Recognize the need for stronger coalitions to achieve meaningful systems change.
- Understand tensions between scaling the movement and maintaining high standards.
- Learn about ways to strengthen B Corp communities, culture, and influence.
“The same reasons why B Corp became necessary 20 years ago have accelerated now.” — Marcello Palazzi [0:09:02]
“We have an economic system [that] is extractive and destructive. The environmental [and] social costs are not borne by the companies, they are basically dumped onto society.” — Marcello Palazzi [0:10:50]
“For many companies, the B Corp impact assessment is seen more like a hygiene factor, instead of a health factor.” — Marcello Palazzi [0:12:34]
“The journey is to move away from an extractive, destructive economy to an economy that is thriving and basically takes care of these negative externalities.” — Marcello Palazzi [0:41:44]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Marcello Palazzi – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcellopalazzi/
B Lab Europe: https://bcorporation.eu/
Better Business Act: https://betterbusinessact.org/
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Gratitude
Thank you to Corey Lien, Nozomii Torii, and Kirsten G. Bryant for being our monthly contributors at Beyond the B!
