More and more companies around the world aspire to achieve B Corp certification, considered a prestigious benchmark for organisations that want to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability. Becoming a B Corp means committing to generating a tangible positive impact on society and the environment, beyond financial results, and embedding sustainability across all business decision-making.

The standards for obtaining the certification were updated last April, introducing mandatory criteria in seven impact areas and a more rigorous evaluation framework, which will be implemented from 2026 onwards. Below, we outline the key details.

The Seven Key Impact Areas

The updated standards address today’s major global challenges. To align with leading international regulations and certifications, new mandatory criteria have been added in the following impact areas:

Stakeholder Governance and Purpose
Acting according to a defined purpose and integrating stakeholders into decision-making processes, supported by structures that oversee social and environmental performance.

Climate Action
Developing a plan to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Large companies must include greenhouse gas emissions accounting and set science-based targets.

Human Rights
Understanding how operations and the value chain may have negative human rights impacts, and taking action to prevent and mitigate these risks.

Fair Work
Ensuring quality employment, fair wages, good working conditions, and giving workers a voice in decision-making.

Circularity and Environmental Managemen
Measuring and reducing environmental impacts across both internal operations and the value chain.

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)
Promoting inclusive and diverse workplaces, and contributing to more just and equitable communities.

Government Engagement and Collective Action
Participating in collective actions that drive systemic change and advocating for policies that support social and environmental well-being. Large companies will be required to publish country-by-country tax reports.

Changes to the Evaluation and Monitoring Methodology

Until now, evaluation followed a cumulative scoring model requiring eighty points across five main areas. Under the new framework, companies must meet specific mandatory requirements in each impact area. Additionally, the conditions for obtaining and maintaining B Corp certification have evolved:

• – Continuous Improvement: companies must demonstrate concrete progress to recertify (at years 3 and 5).
• – Context-based Adaptation: requirements are adjusted according to the organisation’s size, sector, and risk profile.
• – Stronger Verification: verification processes are reinforced through more systematic and rigorous external mechanisms.

This evolution aims to provide a more robust and consistent framework, aligned with current social and environmental challenges as well as increasing regulatory pressures.

The updated certification standards are the result of four years of work, two public consultations, and collaboration with experts and stakeholders worldwide, generating more than 26,000 comments and contributions from 67 countries.ups d’interès, en què s’han rebut més de 26.000 comentaris, aportacions i suggeriments de 67 països.

Want to Become a B Corp? We Can Help!

At inèdit, we have been supporting organisations for years in defining strategies that deliver real impact. B Corp certification is one of the frameworks and tools we offer in our portfolio, thanks to its potential to drive meaningful business transformation and progress towards genuine positive impact.

We accompany you throughout the entire B Corp certification process, from assessment to implementation.