After a major multi-year review, B Lab released its much anticipated new B Corp standards in April 2025. This seventh iteration of standards for B Corp certification is new in many fundamental respects, incorporating extensive feedback and addressing stakeholder concerns.
The new standards have been well received as a bold and necessary evolution to ensure impact and credibility. Here are 10 notable ways that the B Corp certification sets a new ambition level for sustainable businesses.
1. Foundational Requirements first
Before proceeding to the Impact Topics, companies must first meet Foundational Requirements to determine eligibility. These include legal and governance requirements and transparency commitments. Risk screening is also required to ensure that companies seeking certification are aligned with the core values of the B Corp movement.
2. Seven mandatory Impact Topics
Once the Foundational Requirements are fulfilled, companies must now meet minimum requirements across seven core areas:
- Purpose & Stakeholder Governance
- Fair Work
- Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
- Human Rights
- Climate Action
- Environmental Stewardship & Circularity
- Government Affairs & Collective Action
Exact requirements vary according to context, i.e. company size, location, sector, and industry (a subset of the sector). Some examples of this are shown in Climate Action, below.
3. No more points-based scoring
Previous versions of the standards allowed companies to offset weaknesses in one area with strengths in another. The seven new Impact Topics now form a shared baseline which is mandatory for all organisations, improving consistency and rigour across the board.
4. Climate Action is specifically defined
The new standards differentiate climate action sub-requirements by company size and sector. The largest companies (250+ Full Time Equivalent) are required to measure and report annually on scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions and set science-based net zero targets. SMEs (up to 250 FTE) must have a publicly available climate action plan, which may include emissions measurement, target setting, and progress reporting. The very largest ‘XXL’ companies (10,000+ FTE) must use their considerable influence to support net zero by 2050.
5. Environmental Stewardship & Circularity
This new category urges sustainable rethinking and redesign of products and services from their core, emphasising:
- resource efficiency
- waste reduction
- biodiversity protection
- circular economy principles
6. Human Rights due diligence
The Human Rights disclosure areas have been strengthened, obliging companies to assess and address potential human rights risks in their own operations and throughout their value chains, aligned with global frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles.
7. Fair Work standards
The Fair Work topic includes mandatory evidence requirements for policy and processes that ensure:
- living wages
- worker voice and feedback mechanisms
- positive workplace culture and benefits
8. Government Affairs & Advocacy
Non-negotiable tax transparency could be a game changer for some larger companies seeking certification — in particular the large companies that play the favourable tax regime game. The new standards require public disclosure of country-by-country tax reports along with evidence of participation in collective action to influence policy for social and environmental good.
9. JEDI as a core requirement
While the MAGA crowd was preoccupied with DEI, B Corp quietly introduced a powerful new JEDI warrior — and we absolutely love it! Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion is no longer optional for B Corps. Companies are required to demonstrate inclusive hiring, equitable practices, and community engagement.
10. Continuous improvement
Phased certification in the new standards means that B Corps must demonstrate continuous improvement in every recertification cycle. As with the ISO 14000 family of standards, continuous improvement requirements ensure ongoing focus and ambition to reduce negative environmental and social impacts and to comply with evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations.
B Corp new standards timeline
Companies may submit under the current standard for first certifications until the end of 2025. The new standards will be rolled out in early 2026. For recertifications with a submission due date in 2025 (i.e. 6 months before the recertification date), submissions must be in by June 30, 2025. B Corps with recertification dates in 2026 automatically receive a 12-month extension to their recertification due date to allow for the transition to the new standards. Existing B Corps can use this tool from B Lab U.S. & Canada to check their recertification pathway.
Working with Grain
We’ve helped companies in healthcare, the built environment, and other sectors become certified B Corps, and having gone through certification and recertification ourselves, we appreciate the power of the process. We can support clients with further B Corp requirements including carbon footprinting, SBTi aligned target setting, emissions reductions plans, materiality assessments, stakeholder engagement and training, and much more. Our expertise in sustainability frameworks, strategy and reporting make us the perfect partner for B Corp certification or recertification using the new standards.
Do get in touch with any questions or for B Corp certification support!
Check out our bitesize guide below on the B Corp new standards.
