Title: Sustainability performance of B Corps and national culture: Does size matter?

Authors: Silvia Panfilo; Joanna Krasodomska; Salvatore Sciascia; Alessandro Cortesi

Addresses: Sustainability Lab-Venice School of Management, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Fondamenta San Giobbe 873, 30121, Venice, Italy ' Institute of Finance, Krakow University of Economics, Rakowicka 27, 31-510, Krakow, Poland ' Faculty of Economics and Management, Cattaneo University – LIUC, C.so Matteotti 22, 21053, Castellanza, Italy ' Faculty of Economics and Management, Cattaneo University – LIUC, C.so Matteotti 22, 21053, Castellanza, Italy

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of national culture on sustainability performance in B Corps questioning if companies' size matters. In times when sustainability is increasingly integral to business practices, B Corps serve as exemplary models by prioritising social and environmental performance alongside profit. Measuring sustainability performance through the B Impact Score, complemented by financial data, a sample of 219 companies was analysed. Following the European Union's corporate size classification, the sample was divided into 104 smaller companies (micro and small firms) and 115 larger companies (medium and large). Regression analysis reveals that culture does not influence sustainability performance in larger B Corps. However, for smaller B Corps, individualism and uncertainty avoidance negatively affect sustainability, while long-term orientation, power distance, and achievement motivation have a positive impact. The results highlight the importance of cultural considerations in enhancing sustainability performance and call for further exploration of cultural dimensions in smaller firms.

Keywords: sustainability performance; national culture; Hofstede; certified B corporations; B Corps; small business; Europe.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSB.2024.145739

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2024 Vol.14 No.4, pp.408 - 434

Received: 22 Aug 2024
Accepted: 20 Jan 2025
Published online: 18 Apr 2025 *

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