Certified B Corporations have long been recognised globally as companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability for business-driven positive impact, yet they remained relatively under the radar within the tourism sector. The travel industry has witnessed significant growth in B Corps in the last few years, marking a pivotal shift towards the adoption of more sustainable and responsible business practices. This trend has been further solidified by the recent inclusion of B Corp Certification on Travalyst’s first-ever list of sustainability certifications, standards, and schemes compliant with its discerning criteria.
Travalyst is a not-for-profit global coalition that unites some of the largest brands in travel and technology to elevate sustainability information and enable travellers to make more informed choices when planning their trips. Inclusion in this new list means travellers can now more easily discover B Corps within the travel industry when planning holidays thanks to how Travalyst’s partners, and the wider industry, may incorporate this information in their search and sort tools. This designation also highlights the exponential growth of the B Corp movement in travel and growing consumer awareness. As the global network that creates standards, tools, and programs for business, B Lab certifies companies, known as B Corps, that are leading the way in business for good. In the nonprofit’s first decade, only 19 certified companies in the world were within the tourism sector. In the last six years, that number has grown to nearly 200.
Andrew Davies, CEO, B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand said “Travalyst is spearheading meaningful transformation in the travel sector by bringing together businesses and consumers to forge a more sustainable future. In our current era of global mobility, we must place our impact on communities and the environment at the forefront of travel decision-making. We’re excited to see B Corp Certification playing a pivotal role in this evolution, setting a benchmark for responsible and sustainable practices in the travel industry.”
The inclusion of B Corps on Travalyst’s list of entities that comply with their criteria is hoped to only further accelerate its adoption across the travel industry. This move also aligns with the growing demand from travellers for more sustainable and responsible travel options – research carried out by Travalyst’s coalition partner, Booking.com revealed that 45% of travellers find sustainably labelled accommodations more appealing. In addition, B Lab has found that 1 in 4 consumers surveyed across the UK, U.S. and Canada, Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand, and 9 countries in Europe are aware of the B Corp brand name or logo.
Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, shared “Our criteria represent just the first step in a broader, ongoing effort to harmonise approaches to sustainability certifications, standards, and schemes for the accommodation sector, and we are thrilled that B Corp Certification is compliant with this first iteration. We aim for our initiative to be as inclusive as possible in the first instance because achieving a critical mass of credible organisations working towards the same goals is crucial. B Corp’s growing, global network of accommodation providers is a great asset to our mission, especially at such an early stage in this journey.”
Unlike some certifications that focus solely on environmental factors, B Corp Certification evaluates social, economic, and environmental impacts, aligning with Travalyst’s third criteria to encompass efforts within the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. As the travel industry continues to evolve, B Corp Certification stands out as a beacon of comprehensive sustainability practices, setting a new standard for responsible business in the sector.
“Having the B Corp Certification recognised by Travalyst is a significant validation because it not only reinforces the credibility of our social and environmental impact efforts but also aligns us with a global initiative to standardise and simplify sustainability information for travellers,” said Matt Berna, President, Americas at Intrepid Travel – one of the largest B Corp tourism companies in the world. “It’s a powerful acknowledgment that will help us reach more conscious consumers and further our mission of creating positive change through the joy of travel.”
