Leslie Leow, who beforehand labored for Kaplan Monetary in Singapore and accounting physique CPA Australia, solely joined B Lab, the non-profit behind the B Corp sustainability certification scheme, to guide enterprise improvement and partnerships in Might this 12 months. Eco-Enterprise understands that Leow has tendered his resignation and can depart B Lab Singapore on the finish of the month.
Leow replaces Keith Tan, an entrepreneur who spent 5 months in the same position earlier than shifting on. Tan was tasked to move up enterprise improvement and operations, an appointment made after the non-profit noticed its chief govt Amelie Remond depart after 9 months. It had then launched into a administration restructure.
In response to Eco-Enterprise’s e-mail queries on the personnel modifications, B Lab Singapore’s co-founder and director Caroline Seow mentioned that it has no rapid plans to recruit a brand new head of enterprise improvement because it evaluates “the perfect crew construction” for the organisation.
B Lab Singapore didn’t touch upon causes for the excessive worker turnover. In emails seen by Eco-Enterprise, former workers have complained a few lack of ambition, clear management and enterprise focus that has restricted the organisation’s potential.
Eco-Enterprise understands that Prisca Lim, chief working officer of B Lab Singapore, has returned to the organisation on a part-time foundation. She joins Cecilia Hough, who was appointed impression administration lead in November final 12 months.
B Lab’s enterprise improvement perform was targeted on rising the ecosystem of B Corps, or “helpful companies”, in Singapore. B Corp is arguably essentially the most rigorous evaluation of social and environmental efficiency within the certification business.
There are at the moment 53 B Corps in Singapore, greater than twice the quantity as in 2021, when B Lab was formally established as a non-profit with a mission to advance stakeholder capitalism within the city-state. B Lab Singapore has acknowledged that it’s aiming to certify 100 companies in Singapore by 2025.
Uptake of the certification has been comparatively brisk in Southeast Asian markets exterior of Singapore. There are at the moment 64 B Corps in Southeast Asia, excluding Singapore, up from simply three in 2021.
Licensed B Corps in Singapore embrace Vero, the primary Asian public relations agency to decide to not work for fossil fuels purchasers, wholesome meals retailer SaladStop! and sustainability media firm Eco-Enterprise.
Although B Lab Singapore generates earnings from certification charges – companies should pay to realize certification and keep licensed – the entity is just not worthwhile, based on sources. It’s supported by donors, principly the Tsao household. B Lab Singapore’s board of administrators consists of Dr Mary Ann Tsao, chair of the Tsao Basis.
B Corp-certified companies face scrutiny
Globally, there at the moment are greater than 8,500 certfied B Corps. Final month, B Lab made headlines for stripping Havas, one of many world’s largest world communications teams, of its B Corp standing, due to the promoting company’s contract with oil main Shell.
B Lab’s resolution adopted a grievance made by 22 B Corp-certified communications companies for Havas to lose its B Corp standing on the grounds that working for main polluters clashed with B Lab’s values.
In her e-mail response, Seow instructed Eco-Enterprise that B Lab is engaged on new requirements for human rights and environmental impression within the wake of the Havas-Shell controversy. In the meantime, complaints about B Corps that work with purchasers in controversial industries could be “managed on a case-by-case evaluation”, she mentioned.
Clear Creatives, a non-profit that campaigns for promoting companies to cease working for Massive Oil, lately submitted a separate grievance to B Lab about 5 B Corp-certified companies in the USA that it mentioned had ties to fossil fuels manufacturers.
No official complaints have been made about B Corps in Asia, however one of many first B Corps in Singapore, Imaginative and prescient Technique Storytelling (VS Story), is about to lose its B Corp standing in September following its acquisition by public relations agency Pink Hill. B Corp guidelines stipulate that to be able to get re-certified, all group corporations have to be assessed.
Leow mentioned B Lab is in discussions with VS Story and Redhill over their plans to realize B Corp certification.
