B Lab Europe
What is a B Corp

What does the B Corp certification mean?

Certified B Corporations™, or B Corps™, are companies verified as meeting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

What B Corp Certification Means in Europe

B Corp Certification is a global, independent certification that verifies a company meets B Lab’s high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

It recognises businesses that embed stakeholder governance, demonstrate measurable positive impact, and commit to continuous improvement as part of a global movement transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. In Europe, B Corp Certification plays a crucial role in accelerating the transition to a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic model — one aligned with the EU’s sustainability priorities, due diligence expectations, and emerging regulatory frameworks.

  1. Verified Performance

Meeting B Lab Standards V2.1

Certified B Corporations are assessed using the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation that measures impact across 7 areas:

Each standard sets clear, comparable, and credible requirements, overseen by B Lab’s independent Standards Advisory Council.

  1. Legal Accountability

A Commitment to All Stakeholders

B Corps embed stakeholder governance — meaning they commit to consider the impact of decisions not only on shareholders but also on workers, customers, communities, and the environment.

In Europe, this aligns strongly with the EU’s shift toward:

  • sustainability-oriented corporate governance
  • due diligence expectations
  • long-term value creation

 

  1. Transparency

Public Disclosure of Impact

To build trust, every B Corp publishes a public profile detailing key aspects of its impact performance. This promotes transparency and ensures credibility with consumers, investors, and partners.

 

  1. Third-Party Auditing

The new certification process includes a third-party auditing process by external, independent auditors who will verify company performance against the standards, strengthening the rigor and credibility of B Corp Certification while ensuring your company is aligned with upcoming sustainability regulations and best practices.

7 Impact areas of B Lab Standards V2.1

The B Impact evaluates a company’s practices and outputs across key social, environmental, and governance Impact Topic areas:

Purpose and Stakeholder Governance

Companies act in accordance with a defined purpose and embed stakeholder governance in decision making. By doing so, they contribute to an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet.

Human Rights

Companies treat people with dignity and respect their human rights.

Fair Work

Companies provide good quality jobs and have positive workplace cultures.

Climate Action

Companies take action to combat the climate crisis and its impacts.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI)

Companies have inclusive and diverse workplaces and contribute to just and equitable communities.

Environmental Stewardship and Circularity

Companies demonstrate environmental stewardship and contribute to the circular economy in their operations and value chain. They both minimize negative impacts, to help stay within ecological thresholds and pursue positive impacts.

Government Affairs and Collective Action

Companies play a leadership role in fostering shared understanding and implementing solutions toward an equitable, inclusive, and regenerative economy. This role includes a fair and responsible contribution to their operating countries’ economies and infrastructure.

Discover our 
B Impact Platform

B Impact is the new all-in-one platform, or umbrella, that houses all of B Lab’s digital offerings including log-in/registration, preliminary eligibility processes, the B Impact Assessment and SDG Action Manager.

The B Impact Assessment is a free digital tool that can help businesses measure, manage, and improve positive impact performance for environment, communities, customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders, used by more than 150,000 organizations. It is the first step towards B Corp Certification.

Log into B Impact, navigate to the ‘Self Assessment > Requirements’ where you can explore the new standards as they apply to your company context, and discover where you’ll need to focus to meet requirements.

Continuous Improvement: Certification Is the Start, Not the End

B Corps must recertify every three years, demonstrating progress and meeting rising standards.
 The move to the new B Lab Standards strengthens:

  • robustness
  • comparability
  • clarity
  • stakeholder-focused outcomes

This ensures B Corps continue leading in the transition to sustainable and regenerative business models.

Why B Corp Certification Matters in Europe

Europe is at the forefront of regulatory and cultural shifts that demand credible, measurable impact from businesses. 
B Corp Certification helps companies:

  • Prepare for and align with EU sustainability regulation

    (including CSRD, CSDDD, taxonomy-related expectations)

  • Demonstrate verified impact to consumers and investors

    who increasingly expect credible, transparent sustainability claims.

  • Join a thriving community of European B Corps

    across industries driving collective action on climate, inequity, and social justice.

  • Adopt a stakeholder-driven approach

    that supports long-term resilience and value creation.

DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE

We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. 
This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation – which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, 
not just shareholders.

As Certified B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, 
your business is part of the movement:
That must be the change that we seek in the world.
That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
That, through your products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all. To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and 
future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your company impacted by ECGT?

 If your company communicates with consumers in the EU, self-identify in B Impact and begin your recertification journey on B Lab Standards V2 as soon as possible.

Recertification for B Corps

Submit your assessment on the new B Lab Standards (V2) and stay on track before the ECGT Directive…

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