Getting B-Corp Certified in Taiwan
Updated: Jan 2, 2022
You’ve probably heard of B Corporations before: Companies who focus on positive social impact as well as profit. You may also know that in order to be certified as a B-Corp, a company is evaluated on their impact on their employees, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. But, did you know that B Corporations exist in Taiwan? According to bcorporation.net, there are currently 28 certified B Corporations in Taiwan. All Hands sat down with Mai Bach, co-owner of vegan eatery Ooh Cha Cha, to discuss her experience in getting her restaurant B-Corp certified in Taiwan.
Mai Bach, Co-Owner of Ooh Cha Cha
How long have you been running Ooh Cha Cha?
My partners and I have been running our vegan restaurant Ooh Cha Cha since 2013, when we realized that we felt both healthier and happier when we were eating a plant-based diet. We were also concerned with how much of an impact our diet and food systems contribute to global warming. We started Ooh Cha Cha with one location in the Guting area of Taipei, before also opening up our larger, flagship location near Technology Building MRT Station.
Why did Ooh Cha Cha choose to get B-Corp certified?
For us, there are two big benefits of the B-Corp certification. The first is the incredible community of like-minded and mission-driven entrepreneurs all working towards proving that the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit IS possible. The second huge benefit is the ability to quantify and communicate to our community the values we embody and work with everyday.
The B-Corp certification is one of the most comprehensive and well-established certifications for impactful companies. This was a good way for us to evaluate the whole company across all our operations holistically.
When did you begin the process of becoming B-Corp certified?
We began and completed the certification process in 2020.
What’s the time duration of becoming a B-Corp? Do any milestones take longer than others?
It took us about 9 months to go through the process. The average is usually about 17 months, with some companies taking up to 2 years. There’s essentially three phases:
An initial, pre-assessment questionnaire to gauge if the company qualifies for phase 2. This took us 2 months to get through.
The assessment – this is the longest phase. You go through all the categories of questions and submit answers and evidence. SO MANY SPREADSHEETS! You need to get 80 out of a possible 200 points. I don’t even know how many questions you have to answer, but some would get you just ¼ of a point, while some would be used to filter you to the proper point gaining questions. During this phase you are in contact with an analyst as you submit answers through an online platform. This phase took us 6 – 7 months.
Once you finish the assessment, you move on to the review and final point tally. You will get a new analyst and they will review your evidence, and they usually ask for further supporting documentation. It is normal to