March is B Corp™ Month, and the world is watching. The way we do business is changing, shifting, evolving. Not because of rules, not because of trends, but because we choose it. Because we believe in something more.
Business is not just profit and products, spreadsheets and sales. It’s people. It’s impact. It’s legacy. Every choice we make shapes the world around us. And now, the B Corp™ movement is raising the bar, asking us all how far we are willing to go for what we believe in.
Earlier this month, we hosted our second Good Hunter event, bringing together purpose-led business leaders for a conversation about the evolving standards of B Corp™. Lauren Cain from B Lab™ joined us to unpack what these changes mean for businesses committed to positive impact. This article continues that conversation. It is a reflection on what was shared, what is shifting, and what comes next.
The standards are evolving, and the expectations are higher. But this is what progress looks like. This is what leadership feels like. And this is just the beginning.
What is a B Corp™?
Before we dive into what’s changing, let’s take a step back. What is a B Corp™?
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are businesses that meet high social and environmental standards while balancing profit with purpose. Unlike traditional businesses that are primarily accountable to shareholders, B Corps commit to considering the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, and the environment.
If you’re new to the B Corp™ movement or want to learn more about why it matters and how we’re involved, we’ve written a separate article that explains it all:
What is B Corp and Why Does It Matter?
Celebrating Our Recertification
Every three years, B Corps must go through recertification, proving that they’re not just keeping up with impact standards but continually improving.
We’ve always believed that business should be designed to serve people, not the other way around. That belief is what led us to become a Certified B Corporation™ in 2021, and it’s why we continue to challenge ourselves to do better.
Our new impact score of 105.8 is an achievement we’re proud of, not because of the number itself but because of what it represents. It is a reflection of the work we have done to embed purpose into our business, create value for our community, and drive meaningful impact.
We are not alone in this journey. Australia is now home to over 574 Certified B Corporations, from small social enterprises to industry leaders. Businesses like Outland Denim, Bank Australia, and Kathmandu are proving that purpose-driven companies can thrive, innovate, and lead the way.
But as the movement grows, so does the need for stronger accountability. And that is where the new standards come in.
The New B Corp™ Standards: What’s Changing?
For years, B Corps have been certified based on a scoring system, where businesses needed to reach 80 or more points across various impact areas. While this allowed flexibility, it also meant that companies could perform exceptionally well in some areas while barely meeting the minimum in others.
That is no longer enough.
The new B Corp™ standards introduce minimum performance requirements across all key impact areas, ensuring that every certified business meets strong foundational standards across the board. These areas include:
- Purpose & Stakeholder Governance. Every B Corp™ must embed purpose into its legal structure and governance, ensuring that leadership decisions balance profit with positive impact.
- Human Rights. Companies must demonstrate fair and ethical treatment of workers, suppliers, and communities, ensuring that human rights are upheld at every level of business operations.
- Climate Action. Environmental responsibility is now a non-negotiable. B Corps will be required to take measurable actions to reduce emissions and limit environmental harm.
- Fair Work. Every B Corp™ must provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and equitable opportunities for all employees, ensuring people, not just profits, come first.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. B Corps must commit to diverse and inclusive workplaces, not just in policies but in real representation and action.
- Impact Management. Companies will now be required to measure, track, and report on their social and environmental impact, ensuring accountability.
- Collective Action & Advocacy. B Corps are being called to do more than just improve their own businesses. They must actively contribute to broader industry and policy change.
These changes have been in development since 2020, with input from thousands of businesses, industry experts, and global stakeholders. The final standards will be confirmed in late 2024 and will be implemented in 2026.
This is about ensuring that B Corp™ Certification remains a meaningful and powerful mark of business leadership. It is about ensuring that the businesses carrying the B Corp™ badge are genuinely committed to change, not just compliance.
What Can Business Leaders Do Now?
If you’re a business leader and you believe in using business as a force for good, now is the time to start preparing for the new certification standards. Here’s what you can do:
- Assess Your Current Impact – Take the B Impact Assessment (Start here) to understand where your business currently stands.
- Engage Your Team – Purpose must be embedded at every level of the organisation. Have conversations with your leadership team and employees about what needs to change.
- Identify Gaps – With the new standards, businesses will need to ensure strong performance in all key areas. Identify where your company might need improvement.
- Learn from Others – Connect with other B Corps, attend community events, and learn from those who have been through the process.
- Join the Conversation – Throughout 2025, we are hosting a series of Good Hunter events, bringing together purpose-led business leaders to connect, learn, and explore how we can build a better future together. Find out more here.
The Future of Business is Here
B Corp™ Month is a celebration. A challenge. A call to action. It is about remembering why we started, why we push forward, why we will not settle for business as usual. Because the world needs something different. Something better. The bar is rising, and so are we. This is the time to lead, to build, to prove that business can be a force for good. Not just in words, but in action. Not just for today, but for generations to come. The question is not whether change is coming. It is already here. The only question is, will you rise to meet the moment?
