First B Corp conference in Romania

The first local conference dedicated to the B Corp community and certification will take place on October 8th in Bucharest, at a time when Romania ranks fourth among the fastest-growing B Corp countries in Europe.

Organized by Better Business Alliance, with the support of Danone Romania and Nespresso Romania, the event aims to become an annual benchmark for leaders building responsible, transparent, and impactful businesses.

International Speakers, a First in Romania

The conference brings representatives of B Lab Europe, the organization coordinating the B Corp ecosystem in Europe, to Bucharest to provide details on the new B Corp standards, which will come into effect in 2026, as well as how certification can transform organizational culture and business models.

Additionally, Adam Garfunkel, B Corp Ambassador at B Lab UK, will discuss cooperation within the B Corp community.

Representatives from impactful European organizations will also take the stage, including:

Ivan Holub, Sustainability Leader for Danone Central and Eastern Europe, part of the team that coordinated the regional group's B Corp certification,

Oleksandra Navrotska, Government Relations Manager at Danone Ukraine, and

Georgios Polychronopoulos, CEO of Polypan Group (Greece).

"B Corp means much more than a certification; it's a mindset shift: it encourages companies to improve their operational methods in all aspects. I am eagerly looking forward to the event in Bucharest; B Corp truly is a topic with real significance and impact. Essentially, it pushes you to become better, which is extraordinary for any company," declared Ivan Holub, Head of Sustainability, Danone Central and Eastern Europe.

International Brands and Romanian Companies Supporting Change

Confirmed speakers also include representatives from B Corp certified companies, such as:

Ana Doxan, Business Executive Officer at Nespresso Romania,

Thomas Bosment, General Manager Romania & Moldova at Opella,

Elena Hinova McNamee, Founder of Thriving Leadership,

Robert Sroka, Partner Abris Venture Capital, and

Sotiris Pastras, Sustainability Corporate Responsibility Manager at Apivita SA Greece (part of the PUIG group).

"The first B Corp conference in Romania is an event that makes me very happy. It's extraordinary to see a local community of businesses focusing on positive impact emerge. For us at Nespresso, care for farmer communities, the environment, and circularity have always been priorities. B Corp certification strengthens our leadership vision: to have a significant and lasting impact through a culture of good oriented towards people, by optimizing and reusing resources, and supporting a transparent management model. As we like to say, coffee can be a force for good," stated Ana Doxan, Business Executive Officer, Nespresso Romania.

The stage will also host discussions with recently B Corp-certified organizations, such as Confident Agency, Ipanomi, or Natural, as well as organizations in the certification process, who will share lessons learned and the motivations behind their journey.

"This conference marks a defining moment for the B Corp ecosystem in Romania. The number of locally certified companies is growing, and the need for belonging to a community that shares the same values is becoming increasingly visible. We want to bring together companies that think long-term, leaders who want to build meaningful businesses, and professionals who believe in a more responsible business model. This is just the beginning of a broader conversation about impact, collaboration, and real transformation in the economy," declared Cătălina Țicău, co-founder of Better Business Alliance and Chief People & Performance Officer at People & Transformational HR UK.

Romania, Fourth in Europe for Fastest B Corp Growth

B Corp certification is internationally recognized for its high standards, which emphasize impact on employees, community, environment, and governance. Achieving certification by companies represents a public commitment to performance and transparency, as well as entry into a global network of nearly 10,000 companies in over 100 countries.

With accelerated growth, Romania ranks fourth in Europe in terms of the fastest growth of its B Corp community, reflecting the increasing interest of local companies in business models with a positive impact.

The first B Corp conference in Romania supports these efforts, offering direct access to the expertise of the certifying organization, as well as the experiences of companies that have already embarked on this transformation process.

50% of Ticket Value Redirected to a Social Project

Participation in the conference, which will take place on October 8th at The Villa, also supports a social cause: 50% of the value of each ticket will be directed to the organization Ateliere Fără Frontiere, to support the professional reintegration of vulnerable individuals.

More details about the agenda, speakers, and tickets are available here.

— About Better Business Alliance: Better Business Alliance is a non-profit organization that promotes the B Corp business model in Romania, aiming to help local companies meet social responsibility and sustainability standards. The Alliance is initiated by Romanian B Corp consultants Corina Radu, Cătălina Țicău, Cristina Tararache, and Cristina Bîcîilă, with the support of Danone Romania and B Lab Europe, for the creation of a local and regional network of sustainable and forward-thinking companies.

The Alliance seeks to develop a community of certified companies, those in the process of certification, or those aspiring to this status, united by a common goal: to bring value to communities, employees, and the environment. The Alliance will also be active in educating companies through the online program "BIA Accelerator," facilitating the transfer of experience and knowledge between companies, including between large companies and startups, both in Romania and abroad.