Raising the Bar for Sustainable Business
Since its founding in 2006, B Lab has been continuously redefining what it means to be a successful, ethical business - setting rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability through the globally recognised B Corp Certification.
Key Terms
New Standards: Published on April 8, 2025, B Lab’s new standards introduce a restructured certification framework made up of a set of Foundation Requirements and seven Impact Topics. These standards set higher expectations for B Corps in addressing critical social and environmental issues.
Recertification Date: The deadline by which a certified B Corporation must complete the verification process to maintain its B Corp Certification status.
Extension: A formal grace period granted beyond a B Corp’s scheduled recertification date. This allows companies additional time to prepare for the enhanced requirements under the new standards.
EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive: An EU directive focused on strengthening consumer protections around sustainability. It targets misleading environmental claims and aims to increase transparency, accountability, and the credibility of green marketing - placing emphasis on combatting greenwashing.
What’s Changing?
In December 2020, B Lab initiated a review of both its certification and recertification standards. The result: a new, more robust framework designed to address pressing global challenges. These updated standards aim to ensure B Corps are not only maintaining high performance but also demonstrating leadership and accelerating systemic change.
What is Recertification?
Recertification is how companies demonstrate their ongoing commitment to B Lab’s standards and maintain their B Corp Certification. Previously, this process occurred every three years and involved:
• Completing the B Impact Assessment (BIA)
• Submitting supporting documentation and evidence
• Undergoing a verification process by B Lab to confirm the company’s score
The New Recertification Framework
Under the updated model, companies will:
• Use Version 7 of the B Impact platform
• Assess their performance against a tailored set of evolving social and environmental requirements
• Progressively meet further sub-requirements in Years 3 and 5 to maintain certification
This phased approach is designed to align with the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive, further strengthening the credibility and global relevance of the B Corp Certification.
Key Dates
1. For companies recertifying before December 31, 2025:
Companies recertifying during this period were required to submit their updated BIA on Version 6 by June 30 2025, with transition to Version 7 expected by 2028.
2. January 1 – December 31, 2026:
Companies with recertification dates in this window must recertify under the new standards. To support this transition, a 12-month extension will be granted to their current recertification deadlines.
Further details, including how subsidiaries and related entities will be grouped for assessment, will be released starting Q3 2025.
How We Can Help
The new B Corp standards raise the bar - and the value - of certification. As they align with international sustainability frameworks such as the ECGT Directive, B Corp Certification will now stand alongside other internationally respected sustainability benchmarks.
However, with greater expectations come more complex processes. That's where we come in. As experienced B Corp advisors, we help companies approach recertification with confidence and clarity. Our Sustainability Consultants can help you:
• Streamline your recertification journey
• Minimise internal time and resource demands
• Build internal knowledge and capacity
• Drive measurable impact and strategic business value
We don’t just help you tick boxes - we help you unlock value, drive stakeholder engagement, and future-proof your business through sustainable transformation.
Let's build something better - for your business and the planet.
