Social Impact and Online Communication in B-Corps

The main aim of the present study is to empirically analyze the relationship between the level of social impact and the level of online communication in B Corps. To reach this aim, the following indices were developed: the SIA index (based on the overall score of the Benefit Impact Assessment) and the SIA online communication index (based on a mix of variables selected from the literature). An analysis of 400 B-Corp websites was then carried out to highlight companies' behaviors and point out differences between the US and the EU. The research provides a matrix in which four main typologies of B Corps are identified: newbies, overexposed, undervalued and best practice. The research highlights that a high number of companies, especially in the European context, have not yet fully understood the potential of being a B Corp and that there is room for improvement. Companies can adopt the matrix as a benchmarking tool for a self-evaluation of their position, and identify the required actions to improve their performance