Amsterdam wants to play a key role in the transition to a new economy and become the number one city for companies that create both financial and social value. To achieve this goal, the City of Amsterdam has co-created the Building Better Business (BBB) programme to help profitable companies accelerate their social and environmental impact, and get certified for their performance.
The programme has two different tracks participants can choose from: Economy for the Common Good (ECG) and B Corp. Both tracks will help your business become a change agent and will provide the foundation for certification, if you decide to take that step.

A participant explains what she learned during the ECG track 2021.

Dates Meet-Ups

Learn more about our Building Better Business programme and how to pursue a B Corp or Economy for the Common Good certification, join one of the following online Meet Ups:

15 February – Online meetup

3 March – Online meetup

22 March Building Better Business Event 2022

29 March  – Online meetup

14 April – Online meetup

15 April Sign up deadline for the tracks

9 May Start of the ECG track

ECG CERTIFICATION TRACK

The ECG track is for companies who want to increase their positive impact and contribute to the Common Good: a good life for everyone on a healthy planet. At the heart of ECG is the idea that value-driven businesses are mindful of, and committed to: Human Dignity, Solidarity and Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability, Transparency and Co-Determination. Adopting these core values makes your company future-proof and a frontrunner of the new economy.

On this track companies have the opportunity to develop their Common Good Report, which is a 360° sustainability management tool that improves professional relationships and stimulates motivation, innovation and productivity. In the marketplace, a Common Good Report shows that you are a reliable partner with ethical values. It also connects you to a diverse network of like-minded companies, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organisations. There are over 4000 members worldwide, based in 35 countries. To get ECG-certified, you need an external audit of your Report.

ECG track time investment

The track starts with an information session on 9 May to prepare for certification, which includes expert webinars, training and group consulting spread over 32 hours and ends in October 2022. The goal for ECG track participants is to produce a Common Good Report that is ready to be audited. Participants can produce the report on their own or join the first or both parts of the preparation process. Click here for more information.

9 May: Introduction to ECG
How to work with the Common Good Matrix

23 May: Expert webinar
Stakeholder A: Suppliers and the four values (with an example company)

13 June: Group consult
Stakeholder A: Suppliers and the four values (learning from each other and experts)

20 June: Expert webinar
Stakeholder D: Customers & other companies and Stakeholder E: Social Environment and the four values (with an example company)

4 July: Group consult
Stakeholder D: Customers & other companies and Stakeholder E: Social Environment and the four values (learning from each other and experts)

29 August: Expert webinar
Stakeholder B: Owners equity and financial services provider and the four values (with an example company)

12 September: Group consult
Stakeholder B: Owners equity and financial services provider and the four values (learning from each other and experts)

3 October: Expert webinar
Stakeholder Employees including co-working employers and the four values. (with an example company)

31 October: Group Consult
Stakeholder C: Employees including co-working employer and the four values. (learning from each other and experts)

Local Chapters

Local Chapters form the backbone of our movement. Activists work to help implement ECG through organizing local events, contacting businesses and creating networks.

Hubs

International groups work on specific topics such as consulting, auditing, communication, education and public speaking.

Organization

A global movement bringing together business, civil society and politics requires a strong organizational structure.

ECG Companies

Many companies worldwide have already drawn up a Common Good Balance Sheet to document their contribution to the common good.

ECG ADVOCATES

Kate Raworth | UK
Kate Raworth | UK
Economist, university teacher at Oxford and Cambridge, ex-senior researcher of Oxfam GB, author of “Doughnut Economics”.

“Enterprise that is fit for the 21st century will be managed and measured by a far richer set of metrics […]. ECG is a pioneering example of how this can successfully be put into practice. This movement is proving that another way is possible […].”

Otto Scharmer, Dr. | USA
Otto Scharmer, Dr. | USA
Senior Lecturer at MIT, co-founder of the Presencing Institute, author of “Theory U”.

“Putting Economy for the Common Good into practice is perhaps the most important challenge of our generation.”

Riane Eisler | USA
Riane Eisler | USA
Author of “The Chalice and the Blade” and “The Real Wealth of Nations”; Founder of the Center for Partnership Studies Caring Economy Campaign

“We urgently need an Economy for the Common Good that values and rewards caring for people and for nature!”

HOW TO PARTICIPATE