B Corp vs. The GreenPlan: Which Sustainability Framework Is Right for You?
Branding or Behaviour? Why More Businesses Are Making the Switch
There’s no shortage of sustainability frameworks on the market.
But when it comes to real-world action, few spark more debate than B Corp.
Marketed as a badge of honour and embraced by brand-led businesses, B Corp has grown fast over the last decade. But is it delivering meaningful change?
At The GreenPlan, we’ve worked with businesses that started the B Corp journey and stopped. Not because they didn’t care about sustainability, but because they realised they weren’t getting results.
In this post, we’ll compare B Corp vs. The GreenPlan, and explain why more organisations are choosing results over recognition.
What Is B Corp, Really?
B Corp is a certification awarded to companies that score well on a detailed self-assessment measuring environmental, social, and governance performance.
Businesses answer a questionnaire, submit evidence, and if they pass, can promote themselves as a certified B Corp.
But Here’s the Catch
- ✅ It’s mostly self-assessed
- 🚫 No requirement to reduce emissions
- 📄 Focuses on policies over performance
- 💬 Often used as a branding shortcut, not a sustainability strategy
In practice, a company can be certified as a B Corp without making any measurable environmental improvements as long as their documentation looks good.
What Makes The GreenPlan Different?
The GreenPlan (TGP) is a practical sustainability system built for implementation — not image.
It’s designed to help businesses:
- Reduce carbon emissions
- Improve ESG performance
- Align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Action Plan
- Embed sustainability into daily operations and decision-making
The GreenPlan Includes:
A full roadmap mapped across seven actionable themes
Tools to track, report, and improve impact
Custom actions for SMEs, corporates, and public services
Support from real experts with implementation experience
Certification based on verified outcomes, not assessments
B Corp vs. The GreenPlan: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | B Corp | The GreenPlan (TGP) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Purpose | Brand reputation | Measurable sustainability impact |
| Certification Basis | Self-assessed score | Verified results with expert review |
| Implementation Support | None | Full roadmap and advisory |
| Carbon Emission Focus | Minimal | Central to system |
| Biodiversity & Nature | Not required | Fully integrated |
| Supply Chain Analysis | Limited | Built-in actions |
| Staff Engagement | Optional | Core theme |
| Relevance to SMEs | Limited | Designed for SMEs & corporates |
| Speed of Adoption | Slow | Fast rollout, immediate actions |
| Cost | High | Scalable and affordable |
What Businesses Are Choosing and Why
We’ve worked with multiple businesses that moved away from B Corp after realising the limitations:
“We spent months preparing and nothing changed.”
“We passed, but we weren’t actually doing anything different.”
“We needed a system not another badge.”
They came to The GreenPlan for:
- A faster path to impact
- A strategy they could implement with their own team
- A system that supported grants, tenders, and compliance
- Real results they could show clients, partners, and regulators
The Verdict: If You Want Change, Choose Action
If your business goal is to look good online, B Corp might be the right fit.
But if your goal is to:
- Lower emissions
- Boost ESG performance
- Engage your team
- Win tenders and funding
- And prepare for the future
Then The GreenPlan is built for you.
Because real sustainability isn’t about what you say
It’s about what you do
