Throughout history the business world has undergone major changes in its structure, its modeling and its administration, however, the business model, although different, has always led the search to generate income. Many times, unfortunately, no matter how but always how much.
History
To understand the importance of System B, it is necessary to know about its history. It was the year 2000 when, according to La Tercera, the multinational Unilever presented a purchase offer for Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor. At the time of the offer, Jerry Greenfield, one of the owners of the ice cream parlor, refused to accept the sale, arguing that neither he nor his partner wanted to sell their ice cream parlor to a multinational company where they did not see the possibility of creating a sustainable company. Responsible with the community, and friendly with the workers.
A ruling in a United States court forced the owners to accept the multinational's proposal. Bart Houlahan and Jay Coen, North American entrepreneurs, developed in response to what happened a new system that would allow the best companies on the world scene to be certified as “Benefit Corporation” or better known as System B.
The current situation in Mexico of System B
With the signing between CAF-development bank of Latin America- and Co_, the strategic alliance is formalized through which the social innovation ecosystem in Mexico is promoted and the bases are laid for the expansion of the B-Company movement in this country.
Currently in Mexico, according to sistemab.org, a total of 31 B-certified companies are in operation, among which are Transfo, Sarape Social, Matcha Koari, Donadora, among others. At the same time, the Achamar company is pending to obtain the B certification, on the other hand, Crepes & Waffles, Natura and Free Mind are other B companies with operations in Mexico.
If we add the total of companies that Sistema B recognizes in Mexico, counting the pending ones or those that have operations on Mexican soil, we obtain a total of 43 companies. A good handful of companies that are part of the 1785 B Companies in more than 50 countries that the organization recognizes.
Importance of emigrating or undertaking with this approach
B-certified companies are companies that combine profit with social and environmental responsibility, betting on a new way of doing business. For a country that daily experiences difficult situations in its social environment, these types of companies become a new call to hope.
This is what Tania Rodríguez, executive director of CO_Plataforma mentions. "It is essential to invest so that a greater number of companies focused on solving environmental and social problems, through innovative business models, have the capacity and the necessary tools to absorb capital to scale and increase their impact."
The current situation that Mexico faces in a social, environmental and economic situation is worrying, that is why the emergence of companies that focus on the three aforementioned aspects, social responsibility, environment and business, and do not make the latter its priority but rather a consequence of responding responsibly to the social and environmental impacts that the country faces.
Enrique García, executive president of CAF, innovation of a social nature is essential to collaborate with the resolution of social problems in the country. He mentions that "it is key to invest so that a greater number of companies focused on solving environmental and social problems, through innovative business models, have the capacity and the necessary tools to absorb capital to scale and increase their impact."
The importance of starting or certifying companies under this new certificate is critical to strategically and continuously address the different social and environmental situations that Mexico faces. A country like ours is not only in need of the creation of new sources of employment but of sources of employment with clear objectives to generate better opportunities for present and future generations. This will only be achieved if current situations of interest are addressed and companies are created that are focused on improving their environment and not assuming responsibility for the social, economic and environmental consequences of their activity.
Mexico, its businessmen and new entrepreneurs are called to generate new ideas that address and eradicate current problems so that they can then, and only then, look to the future with real options to change the current and future situation of the country.
These entrepreneurs face the great challenge of deciding whether they are agents of disruptive change or just a number added to the national count of entrepreneurs and companies within the country.
Undertaking and doing business with purpose, generating a more inclusive and humane economy, that is our greatest challenge.
Bibliography.
System B. (2018). Companies B Mexico. Available at:
System B. (2018). Mexico. Available at:
ASEM. (2018). The global movement of B Companies arrives in Mexico - ASEM. Available at:
Manzano, J. (2018). Are the B Corporation a new model of CSR?. AlmaNatura. Available at:
León, C. (2018). B Companies: changing the way we do business - La Tercera. Latercera.com. Available at:
