Valsplat makes the digital world more human
Together, we transformed Valsplat's sustainable ambitions into concrete actions, resulting in a successful B Corp certification in 2024. Not only Valsplat but also its subsidiaries, Happy Labs and Hofstede Sterreschans, achieved this milestone. The outcome: focus, structure, and initiatives that continually strengthen their impact, including the new Impact Lead role and an advisory board. The process is living proof that every B Corp journey is unique but always focuses on making concrete steps towards progress.
Dodo Dilemma: Digital Connectivity vs. Digital Detox
As always, we kick off with a Dodo Dilemma. We asked Joris, founder of Valsplat, to choose: Unlimited digital connectivity or digital detox. His answer: “An impossible choice, of course. If unlimited connectivity means people are systematically excluded, their time and attention exploited, and trust in one another diminishes, then I go for digital detox. But if digitalization is designed with human needs in mind—respecting personal privacy and enhancing the offline world instead of replacing it—then I’m happy to contribute to that!”
As a strategic research & design lab, Valsplat makes every digital moment valuable
Valsplat's mission is to make the digital world more centered around people and connection. As a strategic research & design lab, their team of 52 thinkers and creators help organizations make every digital moment meaningful. They contribute to sustainable solutions for societal challenges such as the growing digital divide, unhealthy tech usage, and the rise of AI. With their knowledge, experience, and creativity, they shape a digital society where everyone can participate.
What are sustainable ambitions without clear direction, structure, and focus?
It was evident from the start that sustainability, and being a good employer, had always been important to Valsplat. Their moral ambition was solid, but taking structural steps in the right direction requires focus. The B Corp framework provided exactly the guidance and focus Valsplat needed. We structured and guided the entire process—from start to finish.
A strategy, roadmap, team, and guidance
The result? A clear and structured B Corp journey full of inspiration, enabling the Valsplatters to implement concrete impact initiatives and policies. We set up a "B Team," organized inspiring team sessions, formulated an impact strategy and B Corp roadmap, and guided the entire implementation process from A to Z. The icing on the cake: Valsplat officially certified as a B Corp in August 2024.
No Dodos and the B Corp framework gave us the structure and nudge we needed to realize our impact ambitions
Why is Valsplat a Force for Good?
“Everyone is searching for meaning, for the answer to the question, ‘Why do I do what I do?’ Organizations are no different. We started Valsplat with the idea of making the internet ‘better.’ Better for end users, better for everyone. That mission to do good has always been there. This year, we’re celebrating Valsplat’s 25th anniversary, and it was about time to clearly define what ‘better’ actually means—for our client work, our team, the community, and the environment.”, says Joris, founder of Valsplat.
Not one but three brands certified as B Corps
In addition to Valsplat, both subsidiaries, Happy Labs and Hofstede Sterreschans, were also part of the certification process. Did this bring extra challenges? Not really! The three brands operated as one team with one mission, ensuring efficient communication and implementation. And, of course, it's especially rewarding that all three brands are now B Corps.
Happy Labs focuses on successful qualitative user research, from participant recruitment to top-tier UX labs. Hofstede Sterreschans is an inspiring, nature-surrounded venue for business events, training, and workshops. Their enhanced focus on supporting local suppliers and the local community was a key step in Hofstede Sterreschans' B Corp journey.
The result?
We asked Valsplat's B Team what the certification process brought them. Their answer:
The process pushed us to define new impact areas. The various strategic sessions contributed to the final definition of our impact areas. This brought focus and ensured we’re all heading in the right direction.
Concrete initiatives to turn our moral ambition—something we had often expressed—into real action.
Establishing the advisory board. The B Corp process gave us the push we needed to make this happen.
Launching a new internal role: the impact lead. This ensures that the focus on impact remains safeguarded internally.
With the help of No Dodos, we translated our impact ambitions into concrete steps and successfully completed the B Corp certification process.
How Valsplat describes our way of working
Throughout the process, Jozien perfectly balanced being part of our team with offering critical external advice. This is what makes working with No Dodos so powerful: all their clients share the ambition of making a positive impact on the world, yet each client is unique. Jozien quickly got to grips with Valsplat and helped us shape both our impact ambitions and the B Corp process in a way that truly fits our needs. This resulted in an approach and a B Impact Score we’re incredibly proud of.
Advice for other companies?
“It’s rewarding and important to focus on making your societal impact explicit. Keep that in mind, because the process is tough, and the evidence you need to provide is a tough cookie. Make someone on your team responsible for keeping the process on track, involve as many colleagues as possible, and get external support from someone who’s been through this before 😉,” says Joris.
