What is a B Corp
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Discover what it means to be a B Corp and how these businesses are transforming the global economy.
B Corps commit to positively impact all stakeholders
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, pursue a vision of a better economic system where businesses benefit people, communities, and the planet. They focus on long-term investments rather than short-term profits and measure their success by the positive impact they create.
In Germany, we’re proud to have more than 800 B Corps making a difference, over 100 of which are headquartered here. B Corps exist in all industries and sizes, and they prove that there’s always an opportunity to use entrepreneurial action for good.
B Corps are companies that:
To become a B Corp, a company must meet these three fundamental requirements, demonstrating a commitment to social and environmental impact, legal accountability, and transparency.
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1
Meet High Standards of Social and Environmental Performance
B Corps demonstrate high social and environmental performance by completing the B Impact Assessment, achieving a score of 80 or above, and passing our risk review.
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2
Mission-lock their company
B Corps make a legal commitment by adapting their corporate bylaws to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders – a model known as stakeholder governance.
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3
Embrace transparency
B Corps publish their company profile on our B Corp Directory, transparently showcasing their performance measured against our standards.
The B Impact Assessment (BIA)
The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is a free and confidential online tool that helps companies measure, manage, and improve their impact. By answering a series of questions about business practices and outcomes, it provides a holistic assessment across five impact areas: governance, employees, communities, the environment, and customers. Rather than focusing on a single product or service, the assessment evaluates the activities of the entire company.
Any for-profit company can use the B Impact Assessment — and more than 150,000 businesses already do. You don’t need to be a B Corp, a C-level executive, or an experienced sustainability expert to benefit from this tool. Companies qualify for the certification process, during which their information is reviewed and verified in order to achieve B Corp status.
The new B Impact platform was launched globally on March 7, 2025. B Impact is the new all-in-one platform that houses all of B Lab’s digital offerings, including login/registration, preliminary eligibility testing, B Impact Assessment, and SDG Action Manager.
Important: The current BIA with the current B Lab standards (v6) is still available via the new B Impact platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
