In January 2013, following a series of workshops with civil society organisations, systems experts, sustainability pioneers, economists and entrepreneurs, a group of business and civil society leaders came together to discuss the role of the private sector in addressing the world’s most pressing problems. Through these meetings, efforts to advance a plan for better business began.

Co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, The B Team officially launched on June 13, 2013. In more than 470 cities and 73 countries around the world, business and civil society leaders joined us at 1,200 kick-off events to help shape a ‘Plan B’ for business.

Plan A—where business has been motivated primarily by profit—is no longer an option. We knew this when we came together in 2013. United in the belief that the private sector can, and must, redefine both its responsibilities and its own terms of success, we imagined a ‘Plan B’ – for concerted, positive action to ensure business becomes a driving force for social, environmental and economic benefit. We are focused on driving action to achieve this vision by starting ‘at home’ in our own companies, taking collective action to scale systemic solutions and using our voice where we can make a difference.

In March 2014, we partnered with Global Witness to help foster business engagement around ending anonymous companies. This later led to the development and launch of our Beneficial Ownership Transparency Working Group, building a trusted space for dialogue and action between business and civil society to put an end to anonymous companies.

In February 2015, we called for global leaders to commit to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in 2015, we launched a set of 10 Challenges to provide a framework for Plan B.

Drive Full Transparency

Companies are open, transparent and free from corruption. Better business means prioritising good governance and accountability at all levels. The private sector works to provide all stakeholders with accurate, timely and useful information.

Foster Collaboration

The private sector cannot build a sustainable and equitable future alone. No progress is made when business operates in a vacuum. Businesses partner with other companies, governments, trade unions, and civil society to accelerate positive change.

Restore Nature

Climate change is threatening the world’s most vulnerable people, communities and economies. And it’s time for business to act. Corporates actively work to reduce their environmental impact and plan for a net-zero future where everyone can thrive.

Scale True Accounting

A company’s bottom line cannot be measured purely by monetary profits and losses. Businesses evaluate and communicate social and environmental impacts as well as plans for improvement.

Create Thriving Communities

Companies create safe and encouraging places for employees and communities to thrive. When communities are failing, so is business. Corporates prioritise employee wellbeing at all levels of an organisation to build and reinforce strong societies.

Reinvent Market Incentives

Government policies, corporate structures and tax systems benefit both the planet and its people. New market incentives and subsidies develop that promote healthy corporate behavior. And business can serve as an advocate for these equitable structures.

Ensure Dignity and Fairness

Businesses respect all people—those they employ and those they don’t. No workers live in fear or suffer exploitation. Throughout their supply chains, companies ensure that their workers’ rights are protected and treat them with dignity and respect.

Redefine Reward Systems

Businesses integrate social and environmental performance targets into compensation systems. Companies pay all employees equally and champion efforts to close the pay gap globally. Corporates recognise that these efforts are crucial to fighting inequality around the world.

Value Diversity

Business fights for inclusion of race, gender, sexual orientation and more across workplaces. Companies ensure equality of opportunity for all employees. The private sector advocates for policies that support a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Lead For The Long Run

It’s time for short-term, profit-driven and shareholder-focused business to end. A focus on long-term impact in planning is key to a future where everyone thrives. The private sector works to develop new ways of accounting and reporting that serve all stakeholders.

At COP21, we continued our call for net-zero emissions by 2050. Our call for this ambitious goal resulted in a long-term target being incorporated into the text and provided a strong signal to the world that business wants, and needs, urgent climate action.

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in January 2016, we joined the UN Foundation, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Unilever and McKinsey to launch The Global Commission on Business and Sustainable Development. Created by B Team Leader and Unilever CEO (2009-2018) Paul Polman and former United Nations Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch-Brown to articulate and quantify the compelling economic case for businesses to engage in the SDGs, the two-year long project produced a substantial report outlining the market opportunities for companies invested in sustainable approaches.

Bold, progressive African CEOs, policymakers, civil society leaders and entrepreneurs joined The B Team mission for the launch of our first ever Regional B Team. With leadership from Bob Collymore, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, and Jochen Zeitz, The B Team Africa is a Pan-African platform to enable committed business and civil society leaders to work collectively in driving progress and addressing critical issues across the continent.

One year after the Panama Papers leak, we told a bold step toward transparency in corporate ownership, helping launch OpenOwnership.org: the world’s first open, global beneficial ownership register.

In May 2017, we mobilised 30 US-based CEOs to urge President Trump to keep the US in the Paris Agreement. And while the US ultimately withdrew, this action helped spawn the #WeAreStillIn movement and a groundswell of non-state actors in the US pledging their commitment to keep the promise of the Paris Agreement. Read our letter here.

In January 2018, we joined business leaders at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting to host a conversation around our new area of work: protecting civic rights. B Team Leaders Sharan Burrow, Andrew Liveris and Paul Polman joined Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, to discuss how—and why—business can act in the face of growing threats to civic rights around the world.

Bringing together the heads of tax from nine multinationals, we set out to address a critical opportunity for business and society: responsible tax practice. Facing an alarming decline in public trust, we saw an opportunity to take a bold step to restore corporate integrity while building a fairer, greener and more human world. Investors, international institutions and civil society came together and developed a new framework for approaching tax with a set of Responsible Tax Principles—now endorsed by 15 major multinationals.

Ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit in September 2018, businesses stood up to support workers and ensure a just transition and decent jobs in the renewable energy sector. Both renewable energy developers and producers, and renewable energy buyers, committed, and are continuing to commit, to a future that reduces emissions and builds inclusive economies by taking the Pledge for a Just Transition to Decent Jobs.

At least 40.3 million people are living in slavery—these victims are found in every country and every industry. And it’s estimated that 16 million of them are trapped in corporate supply chains. CEOs have a unique role to play in eradicating modern slavery. That’s why, in September 2018, we created a new tool to help guide CEOs on how to take action in their companies and how to support people trapped in forced labor around the world.