🅱️ 5 things you should know about the new B Corp standards
+ 5 pieces of this week's good news!
It’s Laura here! I spend more time than most figuring out all things B Corp, and today I’m guiding you through 5 changes you’ll find in the recent Version 7 (or “V7” standards.
This isn’t the first time we’ve written about V7. Almost a year and a half ago we talked about some of the more significant changes that were announced and we did a little dive into two of the environmentally focused topics.
If you asked me back then I would have said B Corps and aspiring B Corps would already be certifying on V7 now. That hasn’t come to pass and, to be honest, I think with the speed this has been moving it will be a win if companies can certify or re-certify on the new standards 12 months from now. At one point, the delays frustrated me. However, now that we have the final version of the requirements in the public domain, we can at least get cracking on hitting them.
This week we’re picking out 5 things that are new in the B Corp V7 Standards. Let’s dig in…
> In Focus
5 things you should know about the new B Corp standards
Not everyone has time to read a 1000+ page document to get familiar with the new standards. Especially not sustainability managers who have carbon accounting, supplier engagement, impact reporting and customer ESG questionnaires to get on with. Luckily for you I a) love it and b) have selected five headline changes to share with you.
Before that, a super quick recap of the key changes from Version 6 to Version 7:
Bye-bye points system: The 80 points minimum threshold for certification has been replaced by a series of requirements. You need to meet all applicable requirements to certify as a B Corp (make sure to check what size you fall into now). It’s no longer good enough to focus on your strengths and ignore your weaknesses.
Bigger human rights focus: Elements on human rights only really became significant for companies of 1000 employees or more in V6, human rights due diligence plays a massive role in V7.
Controversial industries: B Lab got themselves into a little bit of a quagmire trying to have an official position on all controversial industries. The new standards were meant to solve this problem and hopefully release some potential B Corps out of a long period in limbo while they waited to learn their fate.
Continuous improvement: The Version 6 points system made it difficult to tell if a company had improved between certifications. The points gave an indication but didn’t tell a story.
So now we are up to speed. What else has changed?
1. Requirements are spread across three certification cycles
Though the requirements vary depending on the size and nature of the business (e.g. factories have more environmental requirements than small office-based service companies), all companies will have certain requirements to meet in their first certification on V7, additional ones to meet three years later and then a few more in the fifth year. That’s regardless of whether you are certifying for the first time or re-certifying! This means that the requirements can reflect progress over time.
2. Missing pieces
There are two elements you won’t find in the hefty V7 standards documents: Impact Business Models (IBMs) and “Exceeds Requirements”. IBMs have long been a way to demonstrate what is exceptional about your business, what sets you apart from other B Corps. What part IBMs will play in the new standards is as yet unclear. You can take part in the next stakeholder consultation to let B Lab know what you think. In the draft version of the standards, it was said you could meet or exceed the minimum requirements. The exceeding part has now been scrapped. I think rightly so… the complexity of creating a second layer of standards on top of the ones they have finished would be a mammoth task.
3. B Lab is concerned about the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive
This directive has been passed by the EU and Member States must implement and enforce all regulations by September 27, 2026. It says that sustainability labels must be supported by credible, robust third-party verification to ensure they accurately reflect a product's environmental performance. At the moment, B Corp is not yet third-party verified (more like second-party). The new standards and verification approach will solve this. If you sell consumer goods with the B Corp logo to European customers you should make yourself known to your regional B Lab and get some legal advice. It might be that you need to re-certify earlier than expected.
4. You’ve got to do your homework
While V7 is very comprehensive and builds on best practice across a whole range of respected standards across each topic, it will not be spoon-feeding you on what exactly you need to act on. To meet the requirements you will need to do some detailed research into your social and environmental impacts and set your own goals to mitigate them.
5. Risky or controversial industries
If your company is one of the ones that has been waiting patiently (or impatiently) to be contacted about whether you are eligible to certify because of your industry or your clientele, then there is light at the end of the tunnel. But there are still a lot of unknowns. The explicit rules on which companies are ineligible to certify will be reduced under V7 but we know there will be a new ‘Risk Profiling Tool’ released in 2026 that will let you know what additional due diligence you will need to carry out to certify. That is not to say that battery chicken farms, for example, are now free and clear to certify. One of the minimum requirements lay out animal welfare practices that need to be in place, so it’s still possible to be technically eligible but fall at the first hurdle.
Keep up to date with latest developments
Apart from keeping in the loop with FTF, I recommend regularly checking the FAQ on the B Impact website. This appears to be the main source of detailed information during the evolution of the standards. Other than that, keep up to date with your regional B Lab’s emails, check out their webinars or get in touch with me!
> Follow up with…
The Standards: Download V7 of the B Corp Standard, B Lab
Short Video: New Standards. New Tools, B Lab
> Last week in consumer goods x climate…
The Good(s) News
🎯 Rubies In The Rubble announced that they have saved 10 million wonky fruits and vegetables from going to waste. They make condiments using surplus ingredients, meaning produce that are rejected due to its shape and sizes.
🎯 Ocean Bottle announced that they have hit a new milestone in collecting 2 billion plastic bottles, taken place in over 400 coastal communities and supported by over 9,000 plastic collectors.
🎯 Agua de Madre announced that they are now B Corp certified.
⭐ Shake Shack UK announced their partnership with Wildfarmed, using their regeneratively grown flour in their signature potato buns, aiming to reduce carbon and minimising water pollution.
⭐ Co-op announced that it is removing over 100 tonnes of plastic annually from its own-brand products' packaging, spanning across categories including bakery, produce and meat.
Have good news? Share it with us - info@followingthefootprints.com!
> Finally, in case you missed it…
📦 Regulation Watch: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Every friend group has a packaging sustainability expert…right?! Well our little FTF friend and writers group does and it is 👌🙌. This week, Indira gets us up to speed on what feels like a tidal wave of incoming packaging regulation.
Want more? Check out our Website! You can find more about the team behind this newsletter, dig through our content archive AND check out our handy databases there too.
Have ideas for what we should write about next? Reply to this email! We’re always looking for inspiration from folks like you.
Until next time!
Team FTF