B Corp certification

Being B Corp certified means a company has been independently assessed and verified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Certified B Corporations are committed to balancing profit with purpose, considering the impact of their decisions on employees, customers, communities and the environment. Rather than focusing solely on financial success, B Corps seek to create positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Many organisations pursue B Corp certification because it provides a recognised framework for building a more responsible and sustainable business. Certification helps organisations demonstrate their commitment to purpose, strengthen governance and trust with stakeholders, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. For many businesses, becoming a B Corp is not simply about achieving a certification; it’s about embedding positive impact into how they operate and grow.

Under the new B Lab Standards V2, the certification process is structured around Foundation Requirements and seven Impact Topic Requirements. Every business pursuing certification must meet the applicable mandatory, evidence-based requirements across these topics, with expectations tailored to its size, sector, operating context and risk profile.

Climate action: How your business is measuring, reducing and taking responsibility for its carbon footprint and broader environmental impact, with evidenced plans for progress over time.

Human rights: How your business identifies and addresses human rights risks within its own operations and across its supply chain, including responsible sourcing and supplier relationships.

Fair work: How your business treats the people who work for it, covering pay, contracts, working hours, job security, health and wellbeing, and whether workers have a genuine voice within the organisation.

Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI): A mandatory topic that looks at whether your business is actively working to create an inclusive and equitable culture, and taking concrete steps to address systemic barriers day to day.

Government affairs and collective action: How your organisation uses its voice, influence and collective action responsibly to support systemic change beyond its own walls, including transparent engagement on public policy where relevant.

The B Corp certification process has changed significantly under the new 2025 standards, and it’s worth understanding what’s involved before you begin.

The starting point is the Foundation Requirements. These include confirming eligibility, adopting the B Corp legal requirement and completing a risk assessment so that any additional due-diligence requirements are identified before the business moves into the Impact Topic Requirements.

From there, businesses work through the B Impact platform, which is now built around the Foundation Requirements and seven Impact Topic Requirements: purpose and stakeholder governance, climate action, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI), fair work, human rights, environmental stewardship and circularity, and government affairs and collective action. Critically, it is no longer enough to achieve a strong overall score. Businesses must now meet applicable mandatory, evidence-based requirements across these areas, with requirements tailored to their size, sector, geography and risk profile.

There’s also a legal requirement involved. Businesses need to make a formal commitment to considering the interests of all stakeholders, not just shareholders, which typically means amending the company’s governing documents.

One of the most important shifts in the new standards is the emphasis on evidence. Policies alone won’t get you through. Businesses need to demonstrate proof of implementation, show measurable progress over time and be able to evidence ongoing accountability.

Once the assessment is complete, businesses go through a verification stage, where evidence is reviewed. After certification, the work does not stop: the new standards are designed around continuous improvement, with companies expected to meet initial requirements and then progress towards additional requirements at future Year 3 and Year 5 milestones.

B Corp certification is intentionally rigorous. The process is designed to ensure that certified organisations genuinely demonstrate positive social and environmental impact rather than simply making commitments.

Many organisations find that certification requires time, reflection and improvements across various areas of the business. However, the process itself can be incredibly valuable and rewarding, helping organisations better understand their strengths, identify opportunities for improvement and build a stronger foundation for long-term impact.

The timeline varies depending on the size and complexity of the organisation, as well as how prepared it is before beginning the process. For some businesses, certification may take several months, while for others it can take a year or longer.

The process typically includes completing the assessment, gathering evidence, implementing any necessary improvements and undergoing verification by B Lab. Many organisations view the journey as equally important as the certification itself, as it often drives meaningful organisational change.

Absolutely. B Corp certification is open to businesses of all sizes, from small independent companies to large multinational organisations. In fact, many small and medium-sized businesses choose to become B Corps because it helps them formalise their values, strengthen their purpose and stand out in increasingly competitive markets.

The assessment is adapted to reflect the size and structure of each organisation, ensuring that businesses are evaluated fairly and appropriately.

B Corp certification can deliver benefits both internally and externally. It can help organisations build trust with customers, attract purpose-driven talent, strengthen employee engagement and demonstrate credibility to investors and stakeholders.

Perhaps more importantly, it provides a framework for continuous improvement. The certification process encourages organisations to measure what matters, identify opportunities to create greater impact and embed responsible business practices throughout their operations.

For many organisations, becoming a B Corp is not the end goal. It is a commitment to ongoing progress and a way of ensuring that business success and positive impact grow together.