B Corp Certification 2025: What Changed, What It Costs, and How to Pass (Fast)

TL;DR

On 8 April 2025, B Lab announced the biggest overhaul to the B Corp Certification standards since the movement began in 2006. The update responds to rising regulatory pressure (European Commission) and growing concerns that the old points-based system (B Lab Standards Overview) allowed companies to offset weaker areas with stronger ones.

From this point on, certification is about meeting minimum requirements across seven impact areas, backed by independent verification and a clear multi-year improvement plan, not just chasing a score.

The 7 Mandatory Impact Topics

Under the new 2025–2026 standards, every company seeking B Corp certification must meet minimum requirements across seven non-negotiable impact topics, no more cherry-picking where you score well and skipping the rest. (B Lab Standards Hub)

1. Purpose & Stakeholder Governance: Companies must embed a mission that considers all stakeholders, not just shareholders. That includes integrating purpose into governance and legally committing to stakeholder accountability. (B Lab Governance Topic)
   
   
2. Fair Work: Businesses need to prove fair wages, safe conditions, and worker participation in decision-making. The new framework raises expectations around job quality, well-being, and inclusivity. (B Lab Workers Topic)
   
   
3. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI): Certification now demands measurable actions to create equitable workplaces and supply chains, from diverse hiring to fair promotion and pay practices. (B Lab JEDI Topic)
   
   
4. Human Rights:  Companies are required to identify, prevent, and mitigate human-rights risks across operations and supply chains. This aligns closely with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles).
   
   
5. Climate Action: All certified companies must measure their greenhouse gas emissions annually and set a science-based target aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C. (Science Based Targets initiative)
   
   
6. Environmental Stewardship & Circularity: This topic focuses on reducing resource use, managing waste, and adopting circular-economy principles to restore natural systems. (B Lab Environment Topic)
   
   

Government Affairs & Collective Action: Companies are expected to act transparently in lobbying and use their influence to support social and environmental progress. Large firms must also disclose tax information country-by-country. (B Lab Collective Action Topic)
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Together, these topics represent a shift from optional ambition to required accountability — positioning B Corp as a certification that proves genuine, system-wide impact.

In the UK, these requirements also align with broader ESG regulations and the expected rollout of the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR). For UK B Corps, this means your certification can help streamline future compliance with both SDR and CSRD frameworks. 

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Old vs New: What Actually Changed

The 2025 overhaul marks the end of the flexible, points-based model. Under the new framework, certification is about meeting defined, measurable standards across all impact areas, with third-party verification baked in from the start. (B Lab Standards Update)

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In short: B Corp is moving from good intentions and optional depth to measurable, externally verified impact everywhere it counts.

In the UK, these changes also align with the Financial Conduct Authority’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR), expected to come into force in 2026. That means UK B Corps who align early could cover both certification and disclosure needs in one go. (FCA SDR guidance)

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FAQ

1. What changed in the B Corp standards in 2025?
   The 2025 update replaces the flexible 80 point target with mandatory performance requirements across seven impact topics. Instead of choosing where to score points, companies must meet minimum thresholds in every area, provide stronger evidence, and undergo third party verification aligned with emerging global rules, especially in Europe. Read more here.
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2. Do I still need 80 points on the BIA?
   No. The 80 point target is being phased out. Certification now requires meeting specific performance criteria in all seven mandatory impact topics. The score still exists for internal benchmarking, but points alone no longer qualify a company for certification or recertification.
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3. Who must undergo third-party verification?
   Every certified or renewing company will undergo independent verification. This shift responds to pressure to prevent greenwashing, align with EU expectations, and increase trust in environmental and social claims. Internal assessments alone are no longer considered credible evidence for sustainability claims in regulated markets.
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4. What are the seven mandatory impact topics?
   The new model requires meeting minimum performance levels in:
   1. Purpose and Stakeholder Governance
   2. Worker Impact
   3. Community and Equity
   4. Environment and Climate
   5. Customer Stewardship
   6. Impact Management and Supply Chain
   7. Ethics and Risk
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5. How long does certification take now?
   Timelines vary, but expect around 9 to 18 months. Duration depends on baseline maturity, data quality, supply chain complexity, and how much change is needed to meet minimum thresholds. Milestones now occur at certification, year three, and year five to drive continuous improvement.