The proof of sustainable practices through certifications has helped companies in attracting investments. Small and medium businesses are the majority in this movement and are betting on the seal to expand, seeking specific funds for green ventures.
In System B, which assesses aspects of the environment, community, governance, employees and customers, the number of certified businesses grew by almost 260% between 2017 and 2022, from 60 to 215 companies. The certifications granted have gained momentum in the last two years: there were 29 in 2019, 39 in the following year and 45 in 2021.
The Brazilian Vegetarian Society granted the vegan product seal to 240 companies between 2017 and 2021. Of these, about 44% are small and 32% are medium-sized. The setting matches the interest of the audience. Google searches for ESG, an acronym for good environmental, governance and social practices in companies, have grown since 2020 and peaked in popularity in the last week of April this year.
“The pandemic generated many questions and combined with strong political and socio-environmental moments”, says Cinthia Gherardi, marketing director of Sistema B. “The ESG concept brings this vision that sustainability is something integrated, which includes social, environmental and governance. ”
Small and medium-sized companies represent 86.5% of certified Bs, and verification includes a questionnaire with more than 200 questions. Businesses use certification to attract investors. This is the bet of the Casa Feito Brasil group, of the brands Feito Brasil and Quintal Dermocosméticos.
The business is getting ready for the first investment, with negotiations starting in the next semester. Company B since 2019, the company has the EcoCert seal of organic and natural cosmetics.
For CEO Giulio Peron, the companies of the future are sustainable and the future of the group is expansion. “The ESG agenda is very important for investment funds, our partners are looking at this very carefully and there are specific funds.”
In addition to the green flag, he says it is essential to have social and financial sustainability. Since 2018, the company has been making leaps in revenue. Since 2019, it has grown by 82%.
Qualification
In the case of Insecta Shoes, the only B footwear company in Brazil and certified in 2016, the investment of R$300,000 came in 2018, a smart money (qualified investment, which includes consultancy) that took investors to the day to day of the business. .
“The certificate certainly validated our positioning and brought more seriousness to our sustainability challenges”, says Barbara Mattivy, founding partner. Last year, Insecta raised BRL 1.8 million in three months in an equity crowdfunding round with Platta, which operates with impact businesses.
Who also takes advantage of this ecosystem is the vegan milk company Nude, which enjoyed the benefit of being, first, a Pending B Corp.
“If the company does not yet have a fiscal year, it can apply for this certification, which helps to think about several things that are not on the radar”, says co-founder Giovanna Meneghel. Launched in 2020, the brand became B in October. In January, it received a contribution of R$ 25 million, coming from an impact fund.
The information is from the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.
Source: CNN Brasil
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