Do hybrid organizations contribute to Sustainable Development Goals? Evidence from B Corps in Colombia

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed upon by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 encompass a set of 17 Goals, aimed at integrating matters of humanity's most pressing problems. Although the SDGs were initially suggested to be carried out by governments, enterprises are key players for the achievement of these goals through their business activities. Among for-profit firms, Certified B Corporations (B Corps) are a legal form of hybrid organizations (HOs) that has received scarce attention in the literature. Building on business model and corporate social innovation (CSI) literature, this paper aims to identify to what extent and how B Corps contribute to the SDGs when focusing on the solution of renowned social problems highlighted by the UN. A multiple-case study based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 18 enterprises in an emerging economy in Latin America (Colombia), shows that B Corps are great contributors to the solution of social problems, such as agriculture-related challenges, corruption, climate change, labor, poverty, and unsustainable habits. Results elucidate that Colombian B Corps show great potential in the empowerment of communities, the introduction of novel organizational practices, the creation of alternatives that shape new lifestyles and consumption patterns, and the introduction of novel environmental solutions. Overall, Colombian B Corps show relevant contributions to Goals 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16. Finally, this research provides a model for analyzing CSI in HOs and gives avenues for future research. © 2020 Elsevier Lt