Explore the 2025 B Corp certification changes and discover how ESG Pro helps companies meet new impact standards across governance, climate, human rights, and more.

Published 7 May 2025

From Points to Principles: Navigating the 2025 B Corp Standards and How ESG Pro Can Help

B Corporation certification has long been recognised as a mark of responsible business, assessing companies against environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Historically, this certification relied on a scoring system, requiring businesses to achieve at least 80 points to qualify. However, from 2025, B Lab is introducing a significant overhaul of the framework to enhance rigour, consistency, and regulatory alignment. This article explores the 12 principal changes introduced in the Version 7 (v7) standards and the implications for currently certified B Corps. It also outlines the ways in which ESG Pro can assist businesses in addressing these updates in a structured and efficient manner.

A Shift from Points-Based to Principles-Based Certification

The transition from a points-based certification model to one that focuses on meeting minimum requirements across all seven impact topics marks a significant change in how B Corps are evaluated. This shift reflects a desire to ensure that all certified businesses meet a consistent baseline across a comprehensive range of ESG criteria, eliminating the flexibility previously afforded to companies who could compensate for weak areas by excelling in others.

The implications are considerable. Companies must now take a balanced approach, addressing each topic with equal diligence, rather than selectively concentrating their efforts. This will likely result in the need for more consistent internal policies, procedures, and reporting mechanisms. The margin for error has been significantly reduced.

ESG Pro is uniquely positioned to support companies through this transition. Our process begins with a detailed gap analysis that evaluates current performance against the new minimum requirements. We map out areas of deficiency and provide tailored improvement plans. These are not generic checklists; we work closely with each client to develop documentation and operational practices that are both meaningful and proportionate to the company’s size, sector, and impact footprint. Our method ensures companies are not just meeting the minimum but are also building systems capable of maintaining compliance in the long term.

From Five Pillars to Seven Impact Topics

The introduction of seven clearly defined impact topics—replacing the more general five pillars—brings new clarity to the B Corp framework. These topics cover Purpose & Stakeholder Governance, Human Rights, Climate Action, Fair Wages, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), Circularity and Environmental Stewardship, and Collective Action. Each topic represents a key aspect of responsible business and must be treated as a core compliance area.

While this change introduces welcome clarity, it also increases complexity. Businesses now face the challenge of navigating a broader and more detailed landscape, often requiring new expertise or cross-functional collaboration.

ESG Pro assists by breaking down each impact topic into actionable components. We develop bespoke templates for data gathering, ensure alignment with international frameworks such as GRI and SDGs, and help clients integrate these topics into existing risk and governance structures. Our approach is not about layering on additional bureaucracy; it is about embedding these topics into the core decision-making and operations of the business.

Our work is underpinned by our Social Value Sustainability Initiative (SVSI) through which we contribute 20% of our programme revenues to social value on behalf of our participating clients.

Mandatory Compliance in All Areas

Perhaps one of the most fundamental changes is the introduction of mandatory compliance across all seven impact topics. Unlike the previous model where strong performance in one area could offset weaknesses in another, the new system demands consistent adherence to standards across the board.

This raises the bar for certification significantly. Businesses must now develop a more balanced approach to impact management, ensuring that no topic is overlooked. The risk of losing certification due to a single underperforming area is now very real.

To address this, ESG Pro conducts detailed materiality assessments to determine the most significant impact areas relative to each business. From this foundation, we create topic-specific compliance plans and integrate performance tracking systems. We also provide tailored training sessions to build internal awareness and capability. This ensures that efforts are not confined to compliance teams alone, but are embedded throughout the organisation.

Independent Third-Party Assurance

With verification shifting from B Lab’s internal review process to independent third-party assurance, businesses must now prepare for a more formal and rigorous audit process. This introduces a higher standard of evidence, documentation, and governance oversight.

For many companies, this shift will require a cultural change in how data is managed and reported. Ad hoc documentation will no longer suffice; businesses need structured processes that generate reliable, traceable data.

ESG Pro supports clients by conducting mock audits and creating assurance-ready evidence packs. We ensure that documentation meets third-party standards by establishing clear audit trails and internal control systems. Our expertise in ESG disclosure frameworks means we can align B Corp requirements with broader audit-readiness practices, making verification a manageable, rather than daunting, exercise.

Reframing Impact Business Models (IBMs)

Under the new standards, Impact Business Models (IBMs)—which previously contributed to scoring—are no longer required. This change reflects a move towards universal accountability rather than recognising only those with exceptional social or environmental missions.

The removal of IBMs from the scoring framework may simplify the certification process for companies whose business models are not inherently impact-driven. However, it also means that all companies are held to the same standard regardless of their mission, making strong baseline performance essential.

For clients that previously leaned on their IBM to boost their scores, ESG Pro helps reframe those strengths into alignment with the new impact topics. We support clients in developing narrative disclosures that highlight the value their IBM still brings, ensuring these efforts are not lost in the new system. This includes repositioning legacy practices into formal policies and measurable actions that support minimum standard compliance.

Human Rights as a Standalone Topic

Human rights have been elevated from a dispersed theme to a standalone impact topic. This aligns with international trends in human rights due diligence and reporting.

Businesses must now develop specific human rights policies, conduct risk assessments, and create remediation procedures for potential violations. This includes both direct operations and extended supply chains.

ESG Pro assists clients by drafting policies that align with international norms such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We conduct supply chain mapping and risk assessments to identify high-risk areas and provide practical tools for grievance management and employee training. Our focus is on building capacity within organisations to manage human rights issues proactively and transparently.

Collective Action Requirements

B Corps are now expected to engage in collective action aimed at influencing systems-level change. This requirement extends beyond internal operations to include meaningful engagement with external stakeholders.

The implication is that businesses must move from being passive participants to active contributors in policy development, industry coalitions, or cross-sector partnerships. This introduces a new layer of responsibility that must be substantiated with evidence.

ESG Pro helps companies identify suitable platforms and campaigns aligned with their mission and resources. We support the development of strategic engagement plans, monitor involvement, and assist in reporting outcomes. Our services ensure that collective action is purposeful, relevant, and aligned with the company’s broader impact goals.

Transition to a Digital Platform

B Lab’s shift to a new digital platform is intended to streamline the certification process and improve the user experience. However, the transition may present challenges for companies unfamiliar with digital impact tracking and reporting systems.

Businesses must adapt to new data entry formats, workflows, and evidence submission requirements. Without adequate support, this shift could become a barrier to progress.

ESG Pro provides comprehensive onboarding for the digital platform, including walkthroughs, document preparation, and upload support. We ensure that companies are equipped to use the platform effectively and avoid common pitfalls. Our services include data formatting, document labelling, and alignment with platform structures to facilitate smoother verification.

Risk Assessment and Early Eligibility Screening

Eligibility will now be assessed at the beginning of the certification process through a formal risk assessment. This change is designed to prevent companies with fundamental risks—such as legal violations or governance failings—from proceeding with certification.

This front-loaded risk evaluation places greater emphasis on pre-certification due diligence. Companies must ensure that they meet minimum ethical and legal thresholds before investing time and resources into the process.

ESG Pro conducts early-stage eligibility screenings, evaluating legal, reputational, and ESG risks. Where issues are identified, we provide clear remediation plans, policy upgrades, and internal controls to bring the business in line with eligibility standards. Our service ensures that clients enter the certification process with confidence.

Continuous Improvement Obligations

The new standards introduce formal checkpoints in years three and five, requiring certified companies to demonstrate continued progress. Certification is no longer a one-off milestone but a commitment to ongoing improvement.

Companies must therefore implement systems to monitor and evaluate progress regularly. This includes setting performance goals, collecting data, and updating practices based on changing standards and stakeholder expectations.

ESG Pro supports long-term planning by creating three- and five-year improvement strategies. We implement tracking dashboards and internal KPIs aligned with impact topic requirements. Our monitoring services include quarterly reviews, board reporting inputs, and ongoing risk analysis to ensure that clients stay on track.

Regulatory Alignment (e.g. CSRD)

A key goal of the updated B Corp standards is greater alignment with regulatory frameworks such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This ensures that B Corps are well-positioned to meet overlapping legal and voluntary disclosure requirements.

This alignment introduces the need for greater integration of sustainability efforts across departments, avoiding duplication and inefficiency.

ESG Pro supports regulatory integration by mapping B Corp requirements to CSRD, GRI, and TCFD standards. We streamline data collection, policy development, and reporting to serve multiple frameworks simultaneously. This results in a coherent and efficient sustainability management system that satisfies both certification and regulatory demands.

Clarifying What Makes a B Corp

The updated framework seeks to simplify and unify the definition of a B Corp globally. This consistency improves stakeholder understanding but may challenge companies to articulate their impact story within a more structured framework.

For businesses with complex or nuanced impact narratives, it is essential to align communications with the new criteria while retaining authenticity.

ESG Pro assists in refining ESG narratives to ensure they reflect the updated standards. We support the development of stakeholder communications, marketing content, and investor disclosures that clearly articulate what B Corp status means and how the business meets the new benchmarks.

Let’s Make an Impact!

The 2025 B Corp standard represents a significant shift towards more consistent, stringent, and system-oriented accountability. While these changes may present challenges for existing B Corps, they also create opportunities for companies to demonstrate genuine, measurable impact.

In our opinion, B Corp have ensured the standard has evolved into a genuine quality mark, one which is even further removed from the over-simplified box-ticking of the many frameworks promoted by commercial interests. For businesses seeking to make a genuinely positive impact, and to drive cultural change from within their operations, B Corp has come of age.

ESG Pro is equipped to support companies throughout this transition, from early-stage assessments through to policy creation, digital platform onboarding, and verification readiness. Businesses are encouraged to begin preparing well in advance of reassessment to ensure compliance and maintain certification.

ESG Pro Ltd: The Social Value Consultancy

Since 2016, ESG Pro Limited, a certified B Corp, has been guiding business large and small through the full spectrum of global ESG frameworks, including the GRI, B Corp, EcoVadis, GSTC, TCFD. In terms of B Corp, we have never failed to secure a client a first-time pass of their B Corp audit! Our services extend to comprehensive carbon reporting, climate scenario modelling, and supply chain auditing, and much more.

Our work is underpinned by our Social Value Sustainability Initiative (SVSI) through which we contribute 20% of our programme revenues to social value on behalf of our participating clients. It’s a unique business model.

Owned and operated by a management team with extended experience in environmental matters and corporate governance, discover an organisation with the passion to deliver positive change. Visit www.esgpro.co.uk or call 0331 630 0728