B Corp 101: A Quick Overview (2026)

What Is a B Corp?

Certified B Corporations—“B Corps” for short—are businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Think of it like LEED certification for buildings or USDA Organic for food. The difference is that B Corp certification covers the entire company, not just a single product or process. It looks at how a business treats its workers, how it impacts the environment, how it engages with communities, how it governs itself, and even how it shows up in the marketplace.

This big-picture approach matters. It helps us tell the difference between companies that are truly committed to positive impact and those that are just doing clever marketing.

Today, there are thousands of B Corps around the world, across nearly every industry. They’re united by a shared goal: to use business as a force for good.

How Do You Become a B Corp (Under the New Standards)?

B Lab, the nonprofit that runs B Corp certification, introduced a major update to the standards (called Version 2.1). While the heart of the process hasn’t changed—businesses still need to show strong performance, legal accountability, and transparency—the way it all works is now clearer and tougher.

Here’s what that means in practice:

  • Performance
    Instead of aiming for a certain number of points on the old B Impact Assessment, companies now need to meet specific minimum requirements across seven key areas:

    • Purpose & Governance

    • Climate Action

    • Human Rights

    • Fair Work

    • Environmental Stewardship & Circularity

    • Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)

    • Collective Action & Policy

    There’s also a new “risk check” that looks at things like industry involvement or client relationships. Depending on the results, companies might have to meet extra requirements to certify.

  • Legal Accountability
    B Corps must legally commit to considering all stakeholders—not just shareholders—in their decision-making. In practice, this often means updating your bylaws or governance structure to ensure people, planet, and community are part of the business equation.

  • Transparency
    Every B Corp publishes information about their impact publicly on the B Corp website. This isn’t about airing every detail of your operations—it’s about being clear on your commitments, your risk profile, and the areas where you’re meeting the new standards.

  • Continuous Improvement
    Certification isn’t a one-time badge. The new standards lay out a path where companies meet certain requirements at the start, then add more ambitious ones in Year 3 and Year 5. The idea is that B Corps are always raising the bar, not just checking the same boxes every few years.

Who Can Certify?

Most for-profit companies—from LLCs and corporations to cooperatives and employee-owned businesses—can certify. Nonprofits and government agencies cannot. There are also new rules about certain industries (like fossil fuels, gambling, or tobacco) and stricter oversight for companies with high-risk revenue streams.

Why Become a B Corp?

So why go through this process? A few of the biggest reasons:

  • Trust and Credibility: Certification shows customers, employees, and investors that your business is serious about impact—not just talk.

  • Attracting Talent: More and more people want to work for companies with values. B Corps stand out as employers of choice.

  • Community: You join a global movement of businesses learning from one another and working together for bigger change.

  • Improvement: The process itself pushes you to do better—on climate, equity, governance, and more.

Is It Right for Your Business?

Becoming a B Corp is a real commitment. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to keep improving. But if your company is serious about aligning values with operations, it can be one of the most powerful steps you take.

Even if you don’t certify right away, exploring the standards can help you see where you’re strong and where you can grow. That alone can be a game-changer.

Conclusion

In a world where businesses are increasingly held accountable for their impact on society and the environment, B Corp certification offers a clear pathway to demonstrate your commitment to doing good. By becoming a B Corp, your company joins a global movement of businesses that believe in using business as a force for good. The journey may be challenging, but the impact—on your company, your stakeholders, and the world—can be profound.

Questions? Curious to learn more? Here are some resources our team has put together for you:

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