Right now, we are in the midst of the biggest transformation in B Lab’s 18-year history. Motivated by an unending commitment to transform our global economic systems by addressing the most critical challenges of our time—climate crisis, rising social inequality, increasing political polarisation, technological complexity—the revolutionary imperative for change is clear.
As a movement, one way we do that is through the standards we set—for ourselves, for each other, and for business the world over. With B Lab’s most significant evolution yet on the horizon, the global community of purpose-driven businesses is gearing up for a new era of impact.
This isn’t just a tweak—it’s a transformation. These changes will make certification stronger, fairer, and more globally aligned, ensuring that B Corps don’t just bump up against the ethical business bar but raise it. If you’ve waited until now to get across how the standards for B Corp certification are evolving, grab your snorkels and dive on in.
A quick refresher
If you are new to the B Corp movement, the first thing you need to know is that our standards are at the heart of everything we do—from certifying businesses worldwide to our broader policy and advocacy work. And while they have undergone several iterations since 2006 (six, in fact), the world has changed so significantly in the past two decades that nothing short of a full-scale evolution was required.
This multi-year, multi-stakeholder project goes far beyond creating new standards for how to conduct ‘better’ business. It includes the development of innovative, intuitive tools and platforms, a new assessment model, and new verification processes designed to better help companies—of all shapes and sizes and industries—take responsibility for their impact in a more effective, holistic and transparent way.
Living our movement-wide commitment to continuous improvement, this community of soon-to-B 10,000 businesses is rising to the challenge by proactively advancing our standards in a way that meaningfully demonstrates the leadership role that business can play in transforming the global economy.
Getting excited yet? Ok, let’s take a look at what’s changing in the new standards and how this will open up all new levels of impact for the B Corp movement.
Image by ThinkHQ
1. Shaped by thousands of community voices
B Lab’s evolving standards are the result of years of rigorous consultation with businesses, impact experts, policymakers, and community leaders across the world. Over 16,000 pieces of feedback have been gathered, debated, and incorporated, making this a true collective effort. This evolution has been somewhat slow, and deliberately so—ensuring that no voice is left unheard and that the future of B Corp is shaped by the movement’s diverse stakeholders.
2. A next-level digital experience
Certification is more than standards—it’s also about the tools that power them. That’s why B Lab is investing in a smarter, sleeker, and more intuitive digital experience. Expect a revamped B Impact Assessment with UX improvements, better data tracking, and easier navigation, making the process of measuring and improving impact more seamless than ever.
3. New Impact Topics to showcase more nuance in your work
Until now, some areas of business impact haven’t been as visible or measurable as they could be. The new standards introduce fresh Impact Topics, ensuring businesses get credit for a wider range of positive contributions. Whether it’s collective action, human rights, or circular economy efforts, the new framework captures more of the ways businesses are driving change
4. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) is going nowhere
At a time when many businesses are (not so) quietly retreating from DEI commitments, B Corps are doubling down. The new standards put Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) at the core, ensuring that businesses not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to creating truly inclusive, fair, and just organisations.
5. Goodbye points system, hello holistic impact
The old 80-point threshold for certification? It’s evolving. Rather than allowing companies to effectively ‘offset’ poorer performance in one area by excelling in another, the new model ensures greater balance and minimum requirements. Companies will either meet, exceed, or not meet a range of Foundation and Performance Requirements across multiple areas—creating a more rigorous, holistic, and fair certification.
B Lab Global: Overview of the standards for B Corp Certification ↗
This is perhaps one of the most substantive changes you can expect from the new standards; a move away from a framework where companies have flexibility in how to achieve a verified 80 point score to a framework where companies have to be verified to meet specific requirements across the standards’ Impact Topics.
The way we see it, this shift reinforces the B Corp movement’s commitment to interdependence over individualism—meaning that the ‘B’ badge represents an even greater level of well-rounded, multi-dimensional impact.
6. Tougher due diligence for an even more trustworthy Certification
Certification is getting more rigorous, not more relaxed. The new standards introduce heightened due diligence and minimum ‘Foundation’ Requirements, ensuring that B Corps aren’t just checking boxes—they’re truly walking the talk. This means better risk management, higher accountability, and an even stronger signal to consumers that when they choose a B Corp, they’re choosing a business committed to meaningful, verifiable impact.
7. A smoother path to Global Recognition
B Lab is aligning its standards with other global certifications and frameworks, making it easier for businesses to comply with multiple sustainability and social impact standards at once. With increasing alignment with EU regulations like the Empowering Consumers Directive (ECD) and the Green Claims Directive (GCD), B Corps will be able to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape with more clarity and efficiency.
How B Corps are driving systemic change through collective action ↗
8. More collaboration, less isolation
To be part of the B Corp community is to believe in the power of each of us—as individuals, and as a collective. It is to trust in our shared capacity to change systems, improve societies, and transform the economy to one that is equitable, inclusive and regenerative. And it is to know that it’s possible to do business with kindness, transparency and ethics, while still operating profitably.
Business doesn’t happen in a vacuum—and neither should impact. The new standards place a stronger emphasis on collective action, recognising that real change requires us all working together. Whether it’s through industry partnerships, policy advocacy, or community engagement, B Corps will now be encouraged and rewarded for working together to create systemic change.
9. A thoughtful, phased transition for B Corps
Big changes can be daunting, but B Lab is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. The rollout will be phased and flexible, ensuring that existing B Corps have the time, tools, and support they need to adapt. From learning programs to upskilling initiatives, companies will be guided every step of the way, making the shift manageable, practical, and ultimately impactful.
Balancing ambition and continuity: Timelines for B Lab’s new standards ↗
10. Raising the bar for the future
This is about more than just keeping up with the times—it’s about leading the charge into the future. It’s ambitious because it has to be, to fundamentally transform economic systems that are no longer working.
The new standards ensure that B Corps are not just good businesses today, but businesses built to thrive in the evolving world of tomorrow. They’re designed to grow with the movement, welcoming more companies into the fold while ensuring certification remains rigorous, meaningful, and impactful.
The goal? A bigger, stronger, and more diverse B Corp community, capable of driving levels of change impossible to ignore.
The moment of transformation
This evolution is, for all intents and purposes, a reimagination of what business can and should be. It reflects our best guess on where the world is headed, where the movement needs to grow, and how businesses can make the biggest impact.
For existing B Corps, it’s an opportunity to level up. For aspiring ones, it’s a chance to join a movement that’s not just adapting to change but leading it.
We know change can feel uncomfortable, but this is the kind of transformation that makes the B Corp movement stronger, more credible, more resilient, and more future-focused than ever. Now is the time to get excited—because while the future of business is being rewritten, B Corps are the ones holding the pen.
Want to stay up to date on the new standards? Sign up for updates or explore how your business can prepare for the transition ↗
