For years, B Corp certification has been the gold standard for businesses that want to prove they’re serious about balancing profit with purpose. Over 10 000 businesses have managed to certify under the current standards. But in 2025, the standard itself is changing - and for good reason.
The world has moved on. What counted as leadership in sustainability five years ago is no longer enough. While regulators might seem as if they are loosening the rules, the opposite is true. Sustainability requirements may be changing in scale but not in meaning. Consumers are demanding transparency. And investors are scrutinizing ESG claims with a sharper eye than ever before.
In this evolving landscape, B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B Corp movement, is introducing an updated framework. It’s no longer about racking up points across hundreds of questions. It’s about meeting clear, non-negotiable requirements that prove your company is accountable where it matters most.
What’s Changing: From Points to Principles
The old system rewarded companies for doing “a little bit of everything.” That made comparison tricky and allowed some businesses to focus on easier wins without addressing tougher challenges.
The new standards are different. As before, a company can pursue B Corp certification, once it meets a set of Foundation Requirements. In addition to committing to stakeholder governance through the B Corp Legal Requirement and signing the Declaration of Interdependence, they must now complete B Lab’s newly designed risk profiling tool. Just as importantly, certification is now off-limits to businesses that generate 1% or more of their revenue from activities deemed harmful to stakeholders, including fossil fuel production, gambling, pornography, tobacco, weapons, prisons, and detention centres.
When it comes to assessing the impact, every company seeking certification will need to meet non-negotiable requirements across seven critical Impact Topics. These include:
- Purpose and Stakeholder Governance
- Fair Work
- Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
- Human Rights
- Climate Action
- Environmental Stewardship and Circularity
- Government Affairs and Collective Action
Across these topics, businesses face between 20 and 124 requirements, depending on their size, sector, and country context. A new “Equity Mechanism” ensures that smaller companies, those in low-income countries, or those in lower-risk industries are assessed proportionately.
Beyond Strategy: Building Impact and Compliance Together
The new B Corp standards are designed with the future of business regulation in mind. They are being built to align with the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive, helping companies reduce the risk of greenwashing. At the same time, they are designed to complement the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
That alignment means B Corp is no longer only a badge of purpose - it is a compliance accelerator. Certified companies will already have governance, data systems, and reporting structures in place to meet legal obligations. Instead of scrambling when legislation comes into force, they will already be ready.
Beyond compliance, certification is a strategic advantage. It differentiates your brand in a crowded marketplace, attracts mission-driven talent, and builds trust with customers who are quick to spot empty promises. For investors, it signals that you are not just prepared for scrutiny but capable of delivering verified results.
The Bigger Picture: Leadership, Not Labels
The real reason to think about B Corp, though, is not the certification itself - it’s the shift it creates inside your company. Certification is a milestone, but the process is the catalyst. It forces leadership teams to ask difficult questions: What are we really here for? Who benefits from our success? How do we prove our impact, not just talk about it?
Becoming a B Corp is not about winning a badge - it’s about reshaping how your business shows up in the world. It is about moving from intention to proof, from aspiration to accountability. And in a business environment where scepticism is high and patience is low, that shift could be the difference between being seen as a leader or being left behind.
What Leaders Should Do Now
Here are three steps to begin today:
- Start your journey: Review the new B Corp requirement areas and compare them with your current ESG practices. Where are the blind spots? Climate strategy? Worker well-being? Governance?
- Engage your teams: Bring sustainability, HR, governance, and finance leaders into the same conversation. B Corp certification cuts across departments; alignment now will save time later.
- Build your roadmap: Decide whether you want to pursue certification or simply use the framework as a guide. Either way, set measurable goals and timelines. Early movers will be rewarded with both credibility and preparedness.
Now Is the Time
The new B Corp standards mark a shift from optional best practices to required commitments. They are not just about earning a logo - they are about future-proofing your business against regulatory change, while proving to stakeholders that your purpose is real. Sign up to the new B Corp platform today!
💡Did you know?
“You don’t need to certify to benefit. The B Impact Assessment platform is free and can be used as a strategy and management tool by any business - whether or not you plan to apply for B Corp certification.”
