B Lab's standards are at the heart of the B Corp movement and our Theory of Change, defining social, environmental, and governance best practices for businesses. Our standards serve as the foundation for everything our network does - from B Corp Certification to our policy work worldwide. Learn more about how our standards are developed, and how they're driving economic systems change.
Continually evolving our tools and strategies for measuring impact.
As the B Corp movement grows, B Lab must continually evolve the tools and strategies we use to effectively evaluate different industries, policies, and practices. The B Impact Assessment and our standards are independently governed by our Standards Advisory Council, curated by B Lab, and improved by our community of users and stakeholders.
An independent, global, multi-stakeholder group with expertise in responsible and sustainable business.
B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council is an independent, global, multi-stakeholder group with specific expertise in responsible and sustainable business. Standards Advisory Council members bring a diverse range of experience and expertise on a broad range of topics related to using and evaluating business as a force for good.
Providing continuous input on B Lab's standards.
Regionally-focused Advisory Groups provide continuous input on B Lab’s standards, specifically focusing on context, relevance, and best practices from around the world. Working Groups are engaged to support the development of industry- or topic-specific recommendations to the Standards Advisory Council.
Evaluating potential negative impacts of industries, policies, and practices.
With input from experts and stakeholders, B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council continually adds to and evolves our Risk Standards as they relate to controversial issues to effectively evaluate the potential negative impacts of different industries, policies, and practices.
Taking action on misconduct or misrepresentation by Certified B Corporations.
B Lab prioritizes responses to stakeholder inquiries and complaints, which can help us identify and take action on misconduct or misrepresentation by Certified B Corporations. This formal complaint process is an essential component of our certification program.
Adapting and advancing the performance requirements for B Corp Certification.
In December 2020, B Lab announced a review of the performance requirements for B Corp Certification. Our objective is to adapt and advance our performance requirements in a way that meaningfully demonstrates the leadership role that B Corps and the B Corp movement should play in the world.