Leonardo Di Caprio-backed Mosa Meat becomes first B Corp-certified cell-based company

08 Sep 2023 --- Mosa Meat has announced it has become the first cultivated meat company to obtain the environmental standards certification. This sustainability certification recognizes the company’s high social and environmental impact standards and its strategy to create a more sustainable food system by growing beef from cow cells.

The recognition acknowledges the environmental and social performance, commitment to accountability, transparency and leadership of Mosa Meat in driving economic systems change, according to the business.

“This certification validates our commitment to sustainable practices and ethical foundations as well as strengthens our position as trendsetters in the global cellular agriculture movement,” says Maarten Bosch, CEO of Mosa Meat.

“We believe in creating real, delicious meat that positively impacts the climate and our food system and are optimistic that these values will be shared across the many stakeholders in our nascent field of cellular agriculture.”

Inception moment for industry
Mosa Meat is the first company in the cultivated meat category to become B Corp Certified, but “hopefully,” not the last.

“Mosa Meat continues to be a champion for change. I am proud to see Mosa Meat be the first cultivated meat company in the world to become B Corp Certified and hope it is the first of many,” says Leonardo DiCaprio, advisor and investor to Mosa Meat. 

It’s not the first “first” for the cell-based business. In 2013, Mosa Meat made history by producing the world’s first cultivated beef hamburger. This year marked the tenth anniversary since the historic burger debut. 

The recognition acknowledges the environmental and social performance, commitment to accountability, transparency and leadership of Mosa Meat.In other cell-based developments, this week, the Orthodox Union, the world’s largest kosher certification agency, determined that the chicken cell line of Super Meat meets the highest level of kosher supervision: Mehadrin standards.

Reaching B Corp
The Dutch company has joined the ranks of Amy’s Kitchen, and Ben & Jerry’s by obtaining the B Corp certification.

To achieve this recognition, Mosa Meat underwent a “rigorous assessment” of its impact on various aspects of its operations, such as governance, mission, environmental practices, workers’ welfare and supply chain practices. 

The company also earned two Impact Business Models (IBMs) for its innovative and sustainable approach.

The IBMs are ‘Resource Conservation’ and ‘Mission Locked’. The former recognizes products or services that reduce resource use, such as energy and water. The latter recognizes companies that protect their mission and ability to consider stakeholders in decision-making through their corporate structure or governing documents. 

“For an IBM certification, companies need to demonstrate principles that are specific, material, verifiable, lasting, and extraordinary. While the B Corp process is quite selective for companies to go through, gaining an IBM is considered to be even more challenging,” Mosa Meat explains.

Mosa Meat uses 100% renewable energy. 

An independent, peer-reviewed Life Cycle Analysis study found earlier this year that cultivated beef production could reduce air pollution by 93%, climate impact by 92% and water use by 78%, all while using 95% less land.

By Marc Cervera