The New B Corp Standards - What They Mean for Aspiring and Re-certifying B Corps
The Next Chapter of B Corp Certification
B Lab is rewriting the rules for what it means to be a leading business, with the new B Corp certification standards representing the most significant evolution in its history. With input from over 1,000 stakeholders and 16,000 pieces of feedback, these standards are designed to tackle today’s most pressing social and environmental issues while remaining achievable for businesses of all sizes.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming standards.
What’s Changing in the Standards?
The new standards introduce clearer, more structured requirements to enhance accountability, transparency, and impact. Here’s a breakdown of the key updates:
Foundation Requirements:
Every company must meet baseline criteria across nine defined impact topics. These minimum thresholds replace the current scoring model, making certification more prescriptive and focused on tangible outcomes:Purpose & Stakeholder Governance
Human Rights
Climate Action
Environmental Stewardship
Equity & Inclusion
Worker Dignity
Collective Action
Ethical Value Chains
Risk Management
Performance Recognition:
Companies will now be assessed using levels such as “Do Not Meet,” “Meet,” “Exceed,” with additional tiers for advanced performance like “Outstanding” or “Leader.” This approach emphasizes continuous improvement, ensuring B Corps are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.Tailored Standards:
To ensure inclusivity, requirements will be adjusted for companies based on size, industry, and geographic context, making certification accessible while maintaining rigor.
B Lab have shared the nitty gritty with us here.
Why These Changes Matter
It’s good news! Globally, businesses are recognising the role they play and business has become better. At the same time, the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of social, environmental, and economic crises. These new standards aim to empower businesses to respond with measurable action. They are designed to ensure every certified B Corp operates at the highest level of impact, while also driving systemic change in the global economy.
Why Act Now?
For companies aspiring to become B Corps or those preparing for recertification, starting the journey before 2026 offers several advantages:
Familiar Framework: Certifying under the current standards provides a solid foundation for future compliance, reducing the lift required to meet the updated requirements.
Incremental Change: Addressing cultural and operational adjustments now means you won’t face the time crunch when the new standards are implemented.
Positioning as a Leader: Early adoption allows you to signal to stakeholders that your company is ahead of the curve, committed to purpose-driven business practices. Become one of the first!
How to Prepare
The transition to the new standards doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are five steps to get started:
Understand the Requirements: Dive into the nine impact areas to identify potential gaps in your current practices.
Engage Leadership: Get buy-in from senior leadership to prioritize the certification process and allocate resources.
Assess Your Impact: Use the B Impact Assessment (BIA) as a baseline to evaluate how your business is currently performing.
Plan for Continuous Improvement: Develop a roadmap for meeting and exceeding the new standards over time.
Work with Experts: Partner with a trained B Consultant to navigate the process smoothly and strategically.
Why the New Standards Are a Game-Changer
According to Judy Rodrigues, Director of Standards at B Lab Global:
“Collaboration with the community and stakeholders to shape the standards is integral to ensuring B Corp standards are ambitious yet achievable and focus on galvanizing impactful business action on the most pressing social and environmental issues of our time.”
The new standards aim to amplify the B Corp community’s ability to lead, inspire, and create meaningful impact in today’s complex world.
Let’s Lead the Way Together
The countdown to 2026 has begun, and the opportunity to be part of this movement has never been more urgent—or more exciting. By certifying or recertifying now, your business can build momentum, establish credibility, and position itself as a pioneer in purpose-driven leadership.
📩 Ready to take the first step? Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s explore how you can thrive under the current and upcoming B Corp standards.