Why It’s Now Even Harder to Achieve B-Corp Certification

Organizations have never faced more pressure to prove they’re doing the right thing, as customers increasingly expect them to demonstrate genuine commitments to sustainability, social responsibility and ethical governance. Alongside this, investors, employees, and regulators are demanding greater transparency than ever before.

Against this backdrop, achieving B Corp Certification has become one of the most respected ways for them to show they’re serious about balancing profit with purpose. But earning that certification is no longer as straightforward as it once was.

To find out more, we spoke to Brian Manusama, who explained how B Corp Certification has evolved, why it’s harder to achieve than ever before, and – mostly importantly of all – how to rise to the challenge.

What Is B Corp Certification?

B Corp is a globally recognized certification that many organizations now aspire to achieve – with an emphasis on creating organizations that consider far more than just financial returns.

“B Corp is a community for companies that want to join forces to think more about sustainability and the social and environmental capabilities that they can bring to the table – not just looking at how they can make as much profit as possible.” – Brian Manusama

Rather than focusing purely on shareholders, therefore, certified B Corps are expected to consider employees, customers, local communities, and the environment as stakeholders in every major organization decision.

The Original Route to Certification Was Far More Flexible

While B Corp has always carried significant credibility, the route to certification was originally much more flexible – centred around organizations completing a lengthy B Impact Assessment.

And they needed to achieve just 80 points from a possible 200 – before making legal commitments that required directors to consider wider stakeholder interests alongside shareholder value.

“In the early days, success was very simple. You would clear the bar and you would wear the badge.

The clever part of that original design was that the badge meant 2 things – one, it was a measurement, but it was also a legal commitment, and that pairing is what made the badge so much more credible in a market that was full of soft sustainability claims.” – Brian Manusama

However, the flexibility of this scoring system meant organizations with different strengths could all achieve certification.

For example, one might perform exceptionally well on environmental initiatives, while another excelled in community impact.

As long as they reached the overall points threshold, both could qualify. That adaptability helped the movement grow rapidly from a relatively small community into one that now includes tens of thousands of certified organizations worldwide.

The B Corp Landscape Changed Dramatically in 2025

But things are different now! B Lab introduced the biggest overhaul the certification process has ever seen back in 2025, shifting the entire philosophy behind the certification and prompting many organizations to now recertify under the new rules.

So, what are the key changes to be aware of?

1. Mandatory Minimum Requirements Across 7 Separate Impact Topics

Perhaps the biggest change is the removal of the overall points system. Previously, organizations could compensate for weaker performance in one area by scoring particularly well elsewhere. That is no longer possible.

As a result, a single weak area can now prevent certification entirely. This means organizations can no longer focus on excelling in one area while paying less attention to another. Instead, responsible practices must be consistently embedded across the entire organization.

2. Certification Is No Longer a One-Off Achievement

Another significant shift is that certification is no longer viewed as something organizations simply achieve once. Instead, they are now expected to demonstrate continual progress – as requirements are assessed when certification begins, reviewed again after 3 years, and then revisited after 5 years.

Standing still is no longer enough either. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they continue improving their practices over time – rather than maintaining the status quo.

This fundamentally changes how organizations approach certification, turning it into a long-term management framework rather than a milestone.

3. Independent Verification Has Arrived

The third major change centres around accountability. Previously, organizations largely completed their own assessments before certification.

Now, independent third-party auditors verify that organizations genuinely meet the required standards.

A Major Shift in What B Corp Certification Is Designed to Achieve

Collectively, these changes represent a major shift in what B Corp Certification is designed to achieve. Historically, certification largely recognized organizations that had already implemented responsible practices.

Today, it increasingly encourages organizations to build systems that ensure those practices continue evolving year after year.

At the same time, wider regulatory changes are also increasing expectations around sustainability reporting, making robust governance and evidence even more important.

For many organizations, this means B Corp preparation now overlaps with wider environmental and compliance requirements – making integrated planning increasingly valuable.

Time to shift gear? Here are some key lessons to keep in mind:

Don’t Just See It as “Another Badge to Win”

For those only just beginning their B Corp journey, the biggest mistake is viewing certification purely as a marketing exercise. The advice is clear! Don’t look at it as another badge to win! It’s about seeing it as a system.

Ownership Should Sit With Senior Leadership

This shift has practical implications throughout the organization too. Rather than leaving responsibility within the marketing department, ownership should move closer to senior leadership, where governance decisions are made.

Carry Out Gap Analysis as Early as Possible

Organizations should also carry out a gap analysis across all 7 impact areas as early as possible. Since every topic now carries equal importance, identifying weaker areas before independent assessment can significantly reduce future challenges.

Avoid Treating B Corp and Wider Sustainability Compliance as Separate Initiatives

Finally, organizations should avoid treating B Corp certification and wider sustainability compliance as separate initiatives – and rather, build one evidence base that supports both to help reduce duplicate efforts, whilst strengthening overall governance.

Ultimately, those most likely to succeed are those that view responsible practices as part of how they operate every day – not just something required for certification.

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Author: Megan Jones
Reviewed by: Jo Robinson