Navigating the New B Corp Standards and What to do next
In an era where consumers, investors, and employees increasingly demand accountability from businesses, the B Corp movement has stood as a beacon for companies striving to balance profit with purpose. But with the unveiling of the new B Corp standards a couple of weeks ago, the stakes have been raised.
To the credit of B Lab, with years of work and thousands and thousands of pieces of feedback the new standards are designed to address urgent global challenges like climate change, human rights, and equity, with a promise to redefine what it means to be a responsible business.
Yet, as companies grapple with these heightened expectations, one pressing question looms: will these new standards empower businesses to lead the charge toward a sustainable future or will they create barriers too high for many to overcome?
As we dive into this new chapter for B Corps, it’s worth exploring whether these changes will catalyse meaningful progress or inadvertently exclude companies that lack the capacity to meet such rigorous benchmarks.
Why Are the Standards Changing?
The updated standards reflect the realities of a world where social and environmental challenges can no longer be treated as optional. B Lab’s intention is to:
Raise the bar for credibility and consistency
Ensure all certified businesses are meeting minimum performance across key areas
Create a structure that motivates continuous improvement
In short, the new standards are designed to rebuild trust, strengthen accountability, and reinforce leadership for those using business as a force for good.
What’s Changing?
Alongside a new interface, this marks the seventh iteration of the standards and the most comprehensive transformation to date. Gone is the flexible scoring system that allowed businesses to play to their strengths. In its place? A clearly defined, accountability-focused model based on meeting specific performance requirements across seven critical Impact Topics.
The new standards have two major components: Foundation Requirements and Performance Requirements.
Foundation Requirements
Before applying for certification, businesses must meet baseline eligibility criteria. These include:
Operational Maturity: At least 12 months of operation in a competitive market
Legal Commitment: Adoption of the B Corp legal requirement to embed stakeholder governance
Revenue Thresholds: Less than 1% of annual revenue from ineligible industries such as fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, gambling, and private prisons
Compliance with Local and National Laws
Risk Profiling: A company’s risk profile determines additional due diligence requirements (e.g. for human rights or environmental impacts)
These requirements ensure that only values-aligned companies are eligible to certify.
Performance Requirements Across 7 Impact Topics
Every company must meet defined standards in all seven Impact Topics, which means no more picking and choosing:
Purpose & Stakeholder Governance
Businesses must embed a defined purpose into governance and decision-making, ensuring board-level accountability for social and environmental performance.
Climate Action
Companies are required to annually measure their greenhouse gas emissions using the GHG Protocol, set science-based targets to align with a 1.5°C future, and implement climate transition plans. Third-party verification is mandatory.
Human Rights
Organisations must assess human rights risks in operations and across the supply chain and take action to prevent and mitigate negative impacts.
Fair Work
Businesses must offer living wages, support positive workplace culture, and establish meaningful worker engagement and voice.
Environmental Stewardship & Circularity
Companies must reduce environmental harm through responsible resource use and circular economy practices.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
Organisations are expected to foster inclusive and equitable workplaces and contribute meaningfully to just communities.
Government Affairs & Collective Action
Companies must engage in systemic advocacy and, for large enterprises, publicly disclose country-by-country tax data.
Each topic includes compliance criteria, supporting definitions, guidance, and alignment with frameworks like ESRS, GRI, and CDP.
What’s Different About the Assessment Process?
The new assessment experience is tailored, phased, and built for collaboration. You’ll no longer be chasing points across optional modules. Instead, you’ll:
Meet minimum performance across all topics
Progress through a five-year certification cycle (Year 0, Year 3, Year 5 sub-requirements)
Demonstrate continuous improvement with increasing rigor over time
Track tasks, timelines, and accountability directly in the platform
Certification will now reflect consistent, high-quality impact across the board and not just standout strengths in one or two areas.
Key Dates
Initial Certification: All new applicants from 2026 onward will certify under the new standards. In other words, you can certify on the ‘old’ standards until the end of 2025.
Recertification in 2025: Companies with recertification submission due before June 30, 2025, will continue under Version 6. If your submission is due after June 30, you can attempt to re-certify before this date on version 6, or transition to the new standards and submit after June 30.
Recertification in 2026 or later: These companies will transition directly to the new standards.
How to Navigate the New B Impact Platform
The new platform is designed to support your team with real-time collaboration, tracking, and planning. Here's how to make the most of it:
Conduct a Gap Analysis
Use the assessment tool to evaluate your company’s current standing against each sub-requirement. The dashboard highlights where you meet the bar—and where you don’t.
Assign Topic Owners
Designate internal leads for each Impact Topic. This ensures accountability and creates momentum across departments.
Set Due Dates and Monitor Progress
Track your Year 0, Year 3, and Year 5 sub-requirements over time. Use project status tools to keep the team aligned and on track.
Keep Evidence Organised
Upload policies, reports, and data sources as you go. This will simplify the verification process and avoid last-minute delays.
Use B Lab’s Resources
Access explainer documents, examples, and guidance directly from the assessment platform or B Lab’s knowledge base.
Common Questions We are Hearing
Will we lose our score?
Yes. Scores are being replaced by a meet-the-bar standard across all topics. Performance will be recognised through transparency, with additional recognition pathways (like Impact Business Models) under development.
What if we’re strong in some areas and weak in others?
You’ll need to meet minimum requirements across all 7 impact areas. No single area can carry your certification.
Is this harder for big companies?
Yes, by design. Larger businesses will face more due diligence and disclosure expectations based on their scale and impact. This is not a new concept for B Corp Certification.
Why This Matters and The Opportunity
The new B Corp standards demand more, but they also deliver more. Far from being just another compliance hurdle, they offer businesses a rare opportunity to future-proof their operations, deepen stakeholder trust, and lead in an era where purpose and profit can no longer afford to be at odds.
Build greater trust through transparency and third-party verification
Offer alignment with emerging ESG and regulatory frameworks
Position companies for long-term operational resilience
Demonstrate authentic commitment to purpose—internally and externally
Support businesses to be proactive leaders in a time of global uncertainty
Yes, the bar has been raised. But so has the clarity. For companies willing to lead, this is a chance to build something better from the inside out.
What Should You Do Now?
Whether you’re looking to certify for the first time or preparing for recertification, now is the time to take action:
Review your tailored Year 0 requirements in the platform
Run a readiness review with your team or an advisor
Start building documentation and tracking progress
Create a roadmap for Year 3 and Year 5 milestones
Book a strategy session to get expert guidance
Ready to Prepare with Confidence?
We help businesses assess where they are, identify what’s needed, and develop an achievable plan for certification or recertification under the new standards.
Book a Free B Corp Strategy Session today
Re-certifying? Register your interest for our workshop here.