Thorough, innovative, and trustworthy. This is how our Product & Sustainability Manager Nadja would describe our newest acquired certification: B-Corp. Learn more about the most recognized certification for sustainability in business, interesting behind the scenes impressions about the whole cerfication process from Nadja and what was hardest to accomplish.
"B-Corp is an international organization that audits companies applying for B-Corp certification across several categories. It recognizes companies that not only pursue economic goals but also focus on sustainability and social responsibility. In the end, it’s the most recognized certification for sustainability in business. What makes B Corp special is that it looks at the company as a whole. It doesn't just look at individual products or parts of the company, but really examines everything from the very beginning — from procurement and suppliers to employees and customers.”
"When I started working at SANVT last autumn (2024), I basically took over the project lead. Some groundwork had already been done, which helped me get up to speed quickly. To deepen my knowledge, I joined a B-Corp Bootcamp from February to April — a weekly and quite intensive program."
"Our assessment focus was on the environment, since that’s a core part of our business model."
SANVTs focus from six assessment parts
How did the certification process itself work?
"There are several stages. First, they check whether everything is complete — all documents uploaded, all questions answered. In the second stage, they verify whether the company meets the minimum point threshold. Then the actual verification process begins. We were lucky to enter a ‘Fast Track’ process — normally it can take 8 to 12 months to get certified. During that week, you basically have to be on standby. Before the final review, there’s also a call with your B-Corp contact person — the one who ultimately grants (or denies) the certification. Re-certification takes place every three years."
"I think answering the questions was the hardest part. It requires a lot of self-reflection — what are we already doing well, what can we improve, what’s still missing? After that, everything went quite smoothly. I’d say we were well prepared and only had to upload a few additional documents before securing the certification."
What are examples of questions or documents you had to provide?
"It starts broadly and becomes increasingly specific. For example: how many employees and suppliers we have. Then it goes into detail — like what’s written in our ‘Code of Conduct’. This defines what our suppliers, such as our Portuguese factories or our logistics partner (PG), must commit to. They check things like whether working conditions are fair and whether employees have health insurance. Our assessment focus was on the environment, since that’s a core part of our business model."
"In addition to B-Corp, we also hold a ClimatePartner certification — both at company level and product level. Unlike ClimatePartner, B-Corp goes far beyond measuring CO₂ emissions. It examines many more aspects, so it’s much more comprehensive."
Next projects? We want to become more active with ‘sample sales’. That means selling pieces from our warehouse that are no longer suitable for online retail but are still in perfect condition. We’d like to hold such a sale soon in our hometown Munich. The proceeds will be donated to charitable organizations like "Die Tafel". Surely, B-Corp is not our last effort for making the fashion industry a more sustainable one - so stay tuned for more news...
