B Lab - B Corp Certification

Voluntary, third-party certification for verified social and environmental performance.
Status: 7,000+ B Corps in 70+ countries; new standards effective 2025-2026[2][3][5][6][9].
Certified B Corps
7,000+
Across 70+ countries, 150+ industries[2][3][4]
Founded
2006
B Lab global non-profit[1][2]
Certification Cycle
3 years
Continuous improvement required[1][3][5][9]
Mandatory GHG Reporting
Yes
Annual Scope 1 & 2; Scope 3 where feasible[7]
B Corp Certification Requirements (2025+)
RequirementDescriptionTiming
Foundation RequirementsEligibility, legal stakeholder governance, risk assessmentYear 0
Impact TopicsMeet sub-requirements across 7 non-negotiable topics (Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, Customers, etc.)Year 0, 3, 5
GHG Emissions ReportingAnnual Scope 1 & 2 required, Scope 3 where feasible; verified data for large companiesAnnual, ongoing
Continuous ImprovementMeet new sub-requirements at Year 3 and Year 5; progress mandatory for recertificationYear 3, 5, ongoing
External VerificationThird-party review of all assessments (no self-certification)All new certifications and recertifications
B Corp Certification Timeline and Transition
YearMilestoneStatus
2006B Lab founded, B Corp Certification launchedActive
2010-202480-point B Impact Assessment (Version 6), recertification every 3 yearsLegacy standard
2025New standards launched: Foundation + Impact Topics, phased by size/regionActive (SMEs recertify on old standard until June 30, 2025)[5][8][9]
2026All recertifications transition to new standards; large companies required to complyActive
2027+Continuous improvement, further standards updatesOngoing
B Corps by Region (2025, est.)
Estimated number of certified B Corps by region (2025).
B Corp Model: Integration and Influence
  • Stakeholder governance: Legal accountability to all stakeholders, not just shareholders[1][6]
  • Continuous improvement: Mandatory progress at Years 3 and 5, no “set-and-forget”[3][5][6][9]
  • Mandatory GHG reporting: Annual Scope 1 & 2, Scope 3 where feasible[7]
  • Third-party verification: No self-certification, external audits for all B Corps[5]
  • Public transparency: All B Impact scores and recertification status publicly disclosed[4][6]
  • Global influence: Referenced in impact investing, SDGs, EU/US regulatory frameworks[5][6][10]

About B Lab and B Corp Certification

B Lab’s B Corp Certification is a voluntary, third-party standard for companies demonstrating verified social and environmental performance, stakeholder governance, and public transparency. The 2025 standards overhaul introduces phased, mandatory requirements across seven impact topics, annual GHG reporting, and external verification, with continuous improvement required for recertification[2][3][5][6][7][9]. Over 7,000 companies in 70+ countries are certified as B Corps, making it a global benchmark for responsible business and stakeholder capitalism.

Note: All data reflects official B Lab and industry updates as of May 2025.

B Lab - B Corp Certification