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News > B Local Utrecht Launch: Building a Better Future Together

B Local Utrecht Launch: Building a Better Future Together

18/09/2025

B Local Utrecht has officially launched, bringing B Corps and purpose-driven businesses together. By joining forces, they aim to collaborate, learn, and create meaningful local impact.

  • Lieke Verspaandonk Sr. Community Engagement Coordinator B Lab Benelux

B Locals are grassroots networks of certified B Corporations (B Corps) and like-minded businesses that share the vision of using business as a force for good. They bring companies together to learn from each other, collaborate, and increase their positive impact on local communities and the planet. Globally, B Locals help turn ambition into action – connecting people and organisations locally, sharing best practices, and driving real change right where they are.

Now, the region of Utrecht joins this movement. With the official launch of B Local Utrecht, we’re proud to carry on this tradition, bringing together purpose-driven organizations from across the region to collaborate, learn, and lead the way toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.

→ Connect with B Local Utrecht on LinkedIn

The Purpose of B Local Utrecht

B Local Utrecht exists to connect and empower businesses in the region that want to make a collective and long lasting difference. The goal? To build a community of impact driven companies and entrepreneurs that support one another and collaborate on concrete solutions to social and environmental challenges. It’s not just about certified B Corps – B Local Utrecht welcomes all businesses driven by purpose, impact, and the well-being of people, society and the planet.

As the third B Local in the Netherlands – after B Local Oost and Limburg – Utrecht now has its own platform to unite businesses, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who care deeply about social and environmental progress, highlighting the influence and power of companies working together.

The Journey: From Dream to Launch

The idea of B Local Utrecht was started in early 2024 when the team at LEAN Lawyers reached out to B Lab Benelux, inspired by the success of B Local Limburg. They wondered: could Utrecht benefit from a similar community? The answer was a clear yes!

Through the support of Etiquet, conversations with B Lab, local B Corps, and social impact initiatives were held and the idea began to take shape. After a get-to-know some of the B Corps in Utrecht session, it was clear that there was a lot of enthusiasm, yet also it wasn’t clear how companies could participate and what was the added benefit of this community. To delve deeper into these questions, Etiquet (Pieter) and LEAN LAWYERS (Hanna) talked to different organizations in the region and looked for other board members to join. During this process, Lisa (DSG) and Olya (Utrecht4GlobalGoals) joined as board members and a brainstorm session with organizations such as MOYU, FairClimateFund, Utrecht4GlobalGoals, the Municipality of Utrecht, and bol.com were held in October 2024 which led to the development of five Impact Themes, aligning the new B Corp pillars with the NEX model topics (sidenote: the municipality of Utrecht is the first city to use this model for annual reporting): Climate Action, Collective Action, Wellbeing & Inclusion, Biodiversity & Circularity and Purpose & Strategy. This co-creation session produced a roadmap with plans for impact topic meet ups, network events, and cross-sector collaborations.

By 2025, the first activities were already happening:

  • Kick-off Event at Broeinest, focusing on connecting and starting this community
  • Green Friday Clean-Up and donations to India, organized by Dille & Kamille and Sumthing with local Utrecht businesses
  • Impact Topic Meeting on biodiversity & circularity at STECK, where MOYU and STECK shared best practices

Finally, at the Social Impact Factory, B Local Utrecht officially launched B Local Utrecht, signing the B Local agreement alongside Tessa van Soest, Director of B Lab Benelux, and local stakeholders.

“It has been great to watch this idea grow into a community – to witness so many people and businesses committed to using their influence and business as a force for good. When you start something from scratch, you are never sure how people will respond. It is inspiring to see everyone bring their own energy and ideas to the table.”

Hanna Jertz, LEAN Lawyers & B Local Utrecht Board Member

 

 

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for B Local Utrecht

B Local Utrecht is just getting started, but the calendar is already filling up:

  • Wellbeing & Inclusion Event at bol.com, co-hosted with Charlotte Halbe – exploring how workplaces can be more inclusive and people-centered
  • Green Friday 2025 or a similar volunteer event – turning Black Friday into a day of giving back to the community and environment
  • Christmas Give Together – celebrating the end of the year as well as giving back to the community
  • 2026 Impact Topic Meetups – deep-dive workshops on Purpose & Strategy, Collective Action, and Climate Action
  • A-to-B Corp Event – helping companies navigate the new B Corp pillars and certification journey

In the coming months, B Local Utrecht will share more about the impact themes they’re focusing on and host events to keep building momentum and collaboration across the Utrecht business community.

 

Meet the People Behind B Local Utrecht

This initiative wouldn’t exist without the passionate people leading it:

Together, they form the heart of B Local Utrecht, shaping a platform for collaboration, learning, and collective action.

 

Join the Movement

We’re just getting underway – and we’d love for you to join us! Here’s how:

  • Follow B Local Utrecht on LinkedIn for news and event announcements
  • Sign up for the mailing list to stay in the loop
  • Join the events – whether you’re a certified B Corp or just curious about using business as a force for good, you’re welcome!
  • Reach out to the board if you want to get involved, collaborate on initiatives, or explore B Corp certification for your company

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