Becoming a B Corp is no small feat—but for many companies, it’s worth every step.
Today’s customers, employees, and investors want more than mission statements—they want proof. B Corp certification offers that proof. It signals to the market that your business meets rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, governance, and transparency. And in a world increasingly shaped by climate risk, supply chain pressure, and regulatory shifts, that credibility can open doors.
And there’s one major update: starting in 2025, B Corp requirements now include annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting for all certifying companies with more than 250 employees or $75 million in revenue.
This change aligns B Corp standards with broader market expectations—and reinforces that climate transparency is no longer optional for businesses that want to lead.
Why companies choose B Corp certification (and what they get from it)
B Corp certification isn’t for everyone—but for many businesses, it fills a crucial gap: the need for external validation that you walk the talk on values like sustainability, accountability, and employee well-being.
So why do companies pursue it?
The real benefits of B Corp status
- It signals credibility: Certification shows that your impact claims are backed by rigorous evaluation—not just marketing language.
- It sharpens operations: The B Impact Assessment often uncovers weak points in governance, employee policies, supplier management, or environmental tracking. Many companies say the process improved how they run the business.
- It attracts the right talent: More jobseekers want purpose-driven workplaces. A B Corp designation helps attract and retain people who care about more than just a paycheck.
- It opens doors: From ESG-conscious investors to procurement teams scoring RFPs, B Corp certification can offer a competitive edge—especially as climate disclosures and social criteria gain traction in supply chains and investment screens.
- It forces alignment: For growing companies, the framework helps align leadership, teams, and strategy around measurable, values-based goals.
Who’s made the switch—and why?
Some of the best-known B Corps didn’t start that way. They transitioned once they saw the value:
- Ben & Jerry’s: Though known for activism, they formalized their stakeholder governance and impact tracking through B Corp certification in 2012.
- Patagonia: A pioneer in sustainable business, Patagonia became a B Corp to anchor its mission legally and ensure its environmental commitments had external oversight.
- Allbirds, Bombas, and Numi Tea: All cite the B Impact Assessment as a tool for operational improvement—not just a badge.
Is it right for your company?
If you’re a growing business with ambitious ESG goals—or if you’re already fielding RFPs that ask about DEI, climate targets, or community engagement—B Corp certification can help you turn loose initiatives into a system. It’s also a way to pressure test your readiness for future disclosure mandates, especially with new rules like California’s SB 253 or SEC climate disclosures emerging in parallel.
B Corp won’t solve all your problems. But it will force you to ask the right questions—and answer them in a way that builds long-term trust.
B Corp requirements
B Corp certification isn’t just a label—it’s a legally binding commitment to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. To qualify, companies must:
- Complete the B Impact Assessment and score at least 80 points
- Incorporate stakeholder governance into their legal structure
- Provide comprehensive disclosures on performance across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers
- And now: measure and report their GHG emissions annually
B Lab’s updated standards reflect a wider shift toward measurable climate action. As of 2025, all companies exceeding the size thresholds must submit verified emissions data every year as a prerequisite for certification.
👉 See B Lab’s eligibility criteria
GHG emissions reporting: the new non-negotiable
Annual GHG reporting isn’t just a compliance checkbox—it’s a sign of operational maturity. The requirement aligns B Corp certification with other major disclosure frameworks like CDP, the California Climate Accountability Package (SB 253/SB 261), and SBTi.
At a minimum, companies should be prepared to:
- Calculate and report Scope 1 and 2 emissions annually
- Begin measuring Scope 3 emissions where feasible
- Implement a carbon accounting system that supports year-over-year tracking
If you’re new to emissions reporting, start with our blog on Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Greenplaces helps companies centralize data, create audit-ready reports, and meet assurance standards with minimal friction.
Additional B Corp requirements you should know
Beyond emissions reporting and legal accountability, B Corp certification includes:
- Performance: A minimum of 80 points on the B Impact Assessment, which evaluates operations across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers
- Accountability: Adopting a stakeholder-oriented legal structure (such as becoming a public benefit corporation)
- Transparency: Publicly disclosing impact assessment scores and related data
For a practical look at how the process works, explore the B Impact Assessment tool—a free resource from B Lab to help businesses evaluate their impact and readiness.
Pro tips: avoid common pitfalls in the B Corp process
- Start with carbon accounting. B Lab’s emissions requirement is now foundational. Get a head start to avoid bottlenecks at the end.
- Engage your whole team. Certification touches everything from HR policies to procurement and legal structure.
- Keep good records. Every assessment answer needs documentation. Centralize your policies and reports early.
- Treat it as an ongoing journey. Certification lasts three years, but continuous improvement is expected.
B Corp is raising the bar—and that’s a good thing
The path to certification is more demanding than ever—and that’s exactly why it matters. With rising expectations from regulators, customers, and capital markets, voluntary frameworks like B Corp are setting the tone for what responsible business looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Done right, B Corp certification isn’t just a badge. It’s a framework that can sharpen operations, clarify purpose, and build trust with the people who matter most to your business.
