The B Corp certification has always been the gold standard for businesses balancing profit and purpose. Now, B Lab is rolling out the most significant update to its standards in the movement’s history, fundamentally changing how companies achieve and maintain their status.
The shift is clear: B Corp is moving away from an aggregate “pass/fail” score and toward mandatory minimum performance requirements across crucial social and environmental topics. This evolution is about raising the bar and ensuring every certified B Corp is taking concrete, consistent action on the world’s most pressing challenges.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and how the new standards compare to the old model.
⚖️ Old vs. New: The Core Difference
The foundational difference lies in the certification mechanism itself—the transition from a flexible scoring system to a strict compliance model.
The Old Standards: The 80-Point Score (Version 6)
Under the previous model, companies certified using the B Impact Assessment (BIA) needed to achieve an aggregate score of 80 points out of 200.
| Feature | Description | The ‘Loophole’ |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Benchmark | A minimum score of 80 points on the BIA. | High performance in one area (e.g., generous worker benefits) could offset low performance in another (e.g., moderate environmental impact). |
| Structure | Organized into 5 sections: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. | Emphasis was on getting enough points, not necessarily excelling in every area. |
| Recertification | Required every 3 years, focused on maintaining the 80-point threshold. | Improvement was encouraged, but not a mandatory structural requirement. |
The New Standards: Mandatory Performance & Continuous Improvement
The new standards eliminate the aggregate scoring system. Instead, companies must demonstrate that they meet a defined list of mandatory minimum performance requirements across all core impact areas. This removes the ability to ‘score’ your way around a weakness.
| Feature | Description | The New Imperative |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Benchmark | No Points. Companies must satisfy specific, non-negotiable, mandatory requirements across all Impact Topics. | Every B Corp must now demonstrate meaningful action in all critical areas. |
| Structure | Organised into 7 Core Impact Topics (plus a required legal framework). | Focuses on issues demanding urgent global action, such as Climate Action and Human Rights. |
| Continuous Improvement | Certification is a phased journey (Year 0, Year 3, Year 5). | Companies must show measurable progress over time, with new, more rigorous requirements mandated at each recertification phase. |
🌍 The 7 Core Impact Topics
The new framework introduces mandatory performance requirements across seven central themes. This ensures a consistent “floor” of positive impact for every B Corp, regardless of industry or size.
Here are just a few examples of the rigorous new focus areas:
- Climate Action: All B Corps must measure and publicly report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (including their value chain) and establish a climate transition plan to reduce those emissions in line with limiting global warming.
- Human Rights: Companies must conduct human rights due diligence across their operations and value chain to assess, prevent, and mitigate negative impacts on people.
- Fair Work: Mandatory requirements to ensure fair wages (a living wage, where applicable), establish positive workplace cultures, and incorporate worker feedback into decision-making.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI): Companies must have an inclusive and diverse workplace and contribute meaningfully to more just and equitable communities.
- Purpose & Stakeholder Governance: The legal requirement is reinforced, ensuring purpose and stakeholder consideration are embedded in the company’s decision-making and legal structure.
✅ What This Means for Business
The new B Corp standards are not just an update; they are a redefinition of leadership in responsible business.
- Increased Rigor and Credibility: By mandating action across all major impact areas, B Lab enhances the credibility of the certification and prevents greenwashing or social washing.
- A Clear Roadmap: The new standards provide a clearer, more explicit roadmap for impact. Instead of chasing points, companies have a definitive set of criteria guiding their investments and strategy.
- Global Alignment: The updates better align B Corp standards with global regulations (like the EU’s corporate sustainability directives) and leading frameworks (like the GHG Protocol), making compliance easier for multinational companies.
For both aspiring and currently certified B Corps, the message is the same: standing still is no longer an option. The future of business demands continuous, deep commitment to impact, and the new B Corp standards are the blueprint for leading the way.