Navigating Change Together: The Next Era of B Corp Certification
In April, B Lab published a bold new set of standards on the B Impact platform. These standards mark a transformative reimagining of what it means to be a B Corp, and signifies a new era in how we measure and manage business impact. They ensure our impact is relevant to the challenges of today and tomorrow, with a focus on vital areas like Climate Action, Fair Work, and Human Rights.
This is a milestone to celebrate. We’re proud of the standards we've created together. This isn’t just about raising the bar, but laying a strong foundation and preparing our community for the future—and we’re feeling inspired and extremely grateful about the level of engagement and support we’ve had from the B Corp community to get here.
This community support fueled our ambition and our confidence to establish standards that inspire critical change. On a personal level, I have seen firsthand the dedication and passion within our community. During countless conversations with business leaders and sustainability champions, I've heard inspiring stories of companies eager to embrace higher standards. But understandably, many are cautious about navigating new complexities. It’s these conversations and your genuine commitment that motivates us daily to refine our approach and continuously improve how we support your journey.
I recall one conversation in particular. A B Corp founder shared with me her excitement about the new standards, but also expressed a sentiment echoed throughout our community: anticipation mixed with uncertainty about what comes next. At B Lab, we understand this feeling deeply—we, too, are navigating uncertainty as we take this significant step towards the future of our movement, alongside all of you.
B Lab’s journey to this point has been both challenging and exhilarating, requiring deep reflection within our organization. We’ve managed an extensive amount of stakeholder feedback—over 26,000 contributions—while juggling conflicting business priorities and navigating complex issues, including ever-changing EU legislation. We’ve also encountered tough questions: How do we balance the need and desire to raise the bar with the realities of running small businesses in a challenging global environment? Should we retain our steadfast commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the face of direct and aggressive governments? (The answer is yes).
Despite these challenges and uncertainties, now is not the time to slow down. Instead, it’s the moment to boldly recommit ourselves to addressing today’s critical social and environmental challenges: The climate crisis, escalating inequality, political instability, and global backsliding on essential commitments. Yes, transformation is daunting. Yes, there are open questions. But we promise to share information clearly, openly, and transparently every step of the way. This moment is pivotal—not just for B Lab, but for everyone striving to redefine business for the good of people and the planet.
Our new standards intentionally shift the focus from individual scoring toward collective, systemic impact. This approach acknowledges that the scale and urgency of today’s global challenges require collaborative, sector-wide action rather than isolated efforts. To support companies through this significant change, we’ve introduced a revamped self-assessment tool, allowing you to understand where your company stands against the new standards, and identify concrete areas for growth and improvement. We encourage you to login to B Impact and explore how the initial Year 0 certification requirements apply to your company.
The transition to the new standards is ambitious, and requires immense collaboration and thoughtful execution. Throughout this extensive process, B Lab has navigated, and continues to navigate, complexities such as aligning stakeholder expectations, balancing varying business priorities, and ensuring compliance with evolving EU and global regulations. The result is the emergence of a robust, rigorous framework designed to drive meaningful change, though it is important to acknowledge that several elements are still evolving. We remain actively engaged in ongoing development and are committed to providing transparency at every stage.
We want to share transparently what we know, and openly acknowledge what’s still being developed:
Moving to third-party certification Certification assessments will soon be handled by independent, approved assurance providers. This shift aims to significantly enhance the transparency, impartiality, and credibility of your certification. Many operational details are still in development and we continue to work on how companies will evidence the standards throughout the certification process. We’re committed to keeping you informed promptly as clarity emerges.
Further development of Impact Business Models (IBMs) We deeply value IBMs, and we’re embarking on an exciting journey to redefine and enhance them. We’re inviting companies to actively participate in shaping this evolution, ensuring these pioneering businesses remain central to our shared mission. Please sign up to join this vital community dialogue.
Improved understanding of a company’s risks and negative impact
The new standards reimagine how businesses identify, assess, and transparently disclose risks and negative impacts. We’re developing a user-friendly tool within the B Impact platform to simplify and streamline compliance (sitting within Foundation Requirement 3) to make the process more intuitive and transparent than ever.
Improved understanding of a company’s scope for certification Determining exactly which subsidiaries, sites, and entities fall within your B Corp certification scope is undergoing important enhancements. We’ve received valuable feedback from companies highlighting the need for clearer, more practical scoping rules. We are actively working to refine these guidelines to better align with real-world business structures and realities, and we’ll share updates soon.
EU ECGT Directive Compliance A key aspect of this transformation is our alignment with evolving legislation, including the EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive, which comes into effect in September 2026 and impacts companies that market products and services to consumers (B2C) in the EU. We’re monitoring this development, and we encourage you to do the same. What we can say is that we encourage all companies with B2C communications in the EU affected by the ECGT legislation to aim to meet the new standard by September 2026.
Enhancements to the B Impact Platform Our new platform is designed to simplify navigating the new standards. We acknowledge some early-stage challenges, from criteria adjustments to login hiccups, and we deeply appreciate your patience. Like any digital tool, continuous improvement depends on your valuable feedback. We encourage you to keep sharing your experiences—we're listening and responding. Although we are a small organization with limited resources, we have ambitious goals to make this platform a dynamic, user-friendly resource for measuring your progress, setting actionable goals, and benchmarking your impact.
Preparing for the future: Your next steps The most immediate action you can take to confidently transition to the new standards is to complete the self-assessment available on the B Impact platform. This project management tool will provide a clear snapshot of where your organization currently stands and what improvements you might prioritize. Even with ongoing developments and refinements to the broader certification framework, this self-assessment offers a tangible and actionable starting point. To learn more, watch our new B Impact video here.
Important dates to remember We recognize that timelines are critical for company planning. Here are key dates to keep in mind (you can read the guidance in full here):
If your recertification date falls in 2025, you must submit your current assessment by June 30, 2025, under existing standards.
Companies recertifying in 2026 will receive an automatic 12-month extension and will use the new standards.
EU-based B2C companies affected by the ECGT regulations should aim to meet the new standard by September 2026.
Our collective goal remains clear: To redefine what business success looks like, together. We understand and appreciate that this transformation journey brings uncertainty, and we’re committed to navigating it transparently alongside you. We pledge ongoing communication, openness, and support as we progress through this crucial stage, and we welcome your continued feedback and engagement.
This moment is significant—not only for the B Corp community, but for the broader movement toward an inclusive, regenerative, and equitable economy. Let’s embrace this opportunity to collectively raise the bar and show the world what truly responsible business can achieve.
Let’s get to work!