From Experience: Leading One of the UK's First B Corp Certifications
I led one of the earliest B Corp certifications in the UK. The process was rewarding, but it was also gruelling — weeks of chasing documentation, interacting with stakeholders, trying to decipher how the standards applied to our context, and then manually assembling evidence that our business was doing what we said it was.
After certification, new challenges arise — the need to track performance and ensure that policies are being implemented in the right way.
This is one of the reasons we built ESG:ONE — to help make it easy for companies not just to gather information and run calculations to certify, but to help them stay compliant and improve the business in a meaningful way. B Corp shouldn't be a three-year scramble: for committed companies it should be easy to make it foundational.
What's Changed in the New B Corp Standards (2026)
In April 2025, B Lab published the most significant overhaul of B Corp standards in its history. The old points-based system — where you could score 80 on the B Impact Assessment by being strong in some areas and weak in others — is gone.
Instead, B Corps must meet a minimum set of standards across the seven Impact Topics and demonstrate continuous improvement over a 5-year period. It requires B Corps not only to improve, but to also demonstrate competence across all topics: being great in a few areas can't offset weaknesses elsewhere.
There are also major structural changes: all assessments now go through independent third-party auditors (To-Cert and SCS Global Services), and EU-facing companies must align with the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) directive by September 2026.
SMEs recertifying in 2026 receive a 12-month extension but must transition to the new standards. Companies certifying for the first time can submit under V2.1 from March 2026. Version 1.6 submissions are now closed.
The Seven Impact Topics Every B Corp Must Address
Under the new standards, Foundation Requirements (eligibility, legal commitment, risk profiling) are the entry point. Once these are met, companies must demonstrate performance across all seven topics. Requirements vary based on company size and sector.
Purpose & Stakeholder Governance
Public purpose statement, stakeholder governance structures, materiality assessments for larger companies.
Climate Action
Climate transition plans, GHG reporting, science-based targets for larger companies, 1.5°C alignment.
Fair Work
Fair wages, worker feedback mechanisms, dignity and wellbeing, positive workplace culture.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity data, equitable practices within and beyond the workplace, inclusive recruitment and advancement.
Human Rights
Due diligence across operations and supply chain, proactive identification and mitigation of human rights risks.
Environmental Stewardship & Circularity
Biodiversity, water, waste monitoring. Circular economy principles in product design and operations.
Collective Action
Transparent lobbying, responsible tax, participation in systemic change through mentoring, advocacy and collaboration.
Why B Corp Certification Software Matters Now
The new standards embed continuous improvement as a formal requirement. You need to demonstrate verifiable improvement during years 3 and 5 to maintain certification. This means B Corp is now an operational imperative, not just a reporting exercise.
Meet all Foundation Requirements and baseline sub-requirements across seven Impact Topics. Complete risk profiling. Adopt stakeholder governance legally.
Maintain all Year 0 requirements plus meet additional sub-requirements. Demonstrate measurable progress. Larger companies: validated science-based targets, formal materiality assessments.
Meet the complete set of sub-requirements. Show sustained improvement and systemic impact. Third-party audit verification of all claims.
If certification now requires continuous data collection, progress tracking, and evidence management across seven topics over five years, doing it in spreadsheets isn't viable. You need a system that collects, tracks, and reports automatically — and that's what ESG:ONE does.
How ESG:ONE Maps to Every Impact Topic
ESG:ONE is an integrated sustainability management system. We help you collect data, perform calculations and develop policies with AI-assistance. The platform also generates AI-supported policy documents, tracks progress against Year 0/3/5 milestones, suggests opportunities for improvement and produces audit-ready reports — so when your third-party verification comes, you're prepared.
| Impact Topic | What B Lab Requires | ESG:ONE Capability |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose & Governance | Public purpose statement, stakeholder governance, materiality assessment | Materiality AssessmentsGovernance Module |
| Climate Action | GHG reporting, climate transition plan, science-based targets | Carbon AccountingScope 1, 2 & 3Target Setting |
| Fair Work | Fair wages, worker wellbeing, feedback mechanisms | Social MetricsSurvey Tools |
| JEDI | Diversity data, equitable recruitment, inclusive culture | Workforce AnalyticsDEI TrackingSurvey Tools |
| Human Rights | Due diligence, supply chain risk, mitigation plans | Supplier ESGRisk AssessmentsDue DiligenceActionsTargets |
| Env. Stewardship | Biodiversity, water, waste, circularity | Environmental DataCircularity ModuleLCAActionsTargets |
| Collective Action | Advocacy, systemic change, transparent lobbying | Action TrackingCustom Reports |
What B Corp Certification Looks Like With Software
Without software, companies can spend weeks creating spreadsheets for each Impact Topic. Those nominated email department heads for data, chase them again, manually compile evidence, and hire consultants to create a gap analysis of the current position. When recertification comes, companies often have to start again.
With ESG:ONE: You onboard in a day. The platform runs an automated gap analysis against the new standards, identifies which sub-requirements you meet and which you don't, and generates an action plan. Data collection is automated through integrations and built-in surveys. Progress is tracked in real time. When your auditor asks for evidence on any of the seven Impact Topics, you export it directly from the platform — with a full audit trail.
Our clients typically report that preparation time drops by 60–70%, and — more importantly — they maintain compliance continuously rather than in three-year sprints.
Free: B Corp Readiness Assessment for the New Standards
An interactive gap-analysis tool covering all seven Impact Topics and Foundation Requirements — tailored to your company size, sector, and location. Download a personalised PDF report.
Take the Assessment →Common Questions About B Corp Certification
Ready to simplify your B Corp journey?
Whether you're certifying for the first time or preparing for recertification under the new standards, ESG:ONE gives you the tools to get there — and stay there.