A new framework for B Corp certification

The B Corp movement has announced an update of its international standards, considered the most relevant since the creation of this certification. The new version was officially presented in April 2024 by B Lab, the organization that manages the B Corp movement globally.

Currently, more than 10,000 certified companies in more than 100 countries are part of this business community are part of this business community that promotes positive impact-oriented business models.

The update seeks to to reinforce the role of companies as agents of economic transformationby raising the bar in terms of sustainability, social impact and governance.

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Change in the evaluation system

Until now, companies could obtain B Corp certification by achieving at least 80 points in the B Impact Assessment. 80 points in the B Corp Impact Assessment, a system based on an overall score distributed in five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.a system based on an overall score distributed in five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

The new model introduces a structural change. Instead of relying on a total score, companies will have to meet mandatory requirements in all impact areas, which aims to ensure more consistent and comparable results among certified organizations.This is intended to ensure more consistent and comparable results among certified organizations.

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Seven key areas of impact

The new framework is structured into seven areas of action that reflect today’s major social and environmental challenges:

• Governance and corporate purpose

• Climate action

• Human rights

• Fair labor

• Environmental management and circularity

• Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)

• Government affairs and collective action

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Each of these areas establishes specific requirements that companies must meet in order to obtain or maintain certification.

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Continuous improvement and greater transparency

The new standards also reinforce the principle of continuous improvement. Companies must demonstrate regular progress on their social and environmental objectives and report their progress in a transparent manner..

The model also incorporates a greater focus on stakeholder-oriented governance, responsible communication and alignment with key international sustainability frameworks.

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What it means for companies

The update aims to consolidate B Corp as one of the benchmark standards in corporate sustainability. For companies that want to become certified or maintain certification, the new model will involve:

• greater rigor in measuring impact

• integration of sustainability throughout the organization

• alignment with international reporting and climate action standards

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In a context of increasing regulatory and market demands, the new standards seek to promote more responsible, transparent and positive impact-oriented business models, the new standards seek to promote more responsible, transparent and positive-impact oriented business models.