B Corp Certification Revamped: What’s New in Version 6?
- B Corp certification is becoming more rigorous and transparent, changing pursuant to modern expectations of corporate sustainability.
- Businesses must continuously improve; the new update eliminates self-assessment and one-off performance.
- They must meet standards across seven mandatory impact areas.
In response to stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations and clamorous demands to overhaul the previous model, B Lab's B Corp certification has undergone a major update.
The latest Version 6 mandates that B Corps or corporations show real, measurable impact, as opposed to just collecting points and one-off performance.
The old system employed a points-based approach and wanted businesses to score at least 80 points on the B Impact Assessment (BIA). In contrast, in the new version, there are no more points. Instead, they must meet a set of Year 0 requirements, as well as additional requirements in Years 3 and 5, to complete the certification process.
Version 6 kicks in in 2026 and applies to all companies, particularly those in the EU. However, small businesses awaiting recertification in 2025 can still use the old system, provided they apply by 30 June 2025.
READ MORE: What is B Corp and How Does it Help Small Businesses?
B Corp Assessment: How It Looks from 2026
The assessment will be done by external reviewers, rendering self-assessment wholly dysfunctional. This transition helps comply with EU greenwashing rules, makes the certification more credible, and builds trust.
A major overhaul is that businesses can no longer choose the areas where they perform really well. Instead, they need to meet standards across seven mandatory impact areas.
These areas include Purpose & Stakeholder Governance, Fair Work, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI), Human Rights, Climate Action, Environmental Stewardship and Circularity, and Government Affairs & Collective Action.
Check out B Lab’s website for a detailed overview of the changes.
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