B Corp Certification

What is B Corp Certification?

B Corp certification can be awarded to companies that demonstrably meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The certification was created in 2006 by the organization B Lab, whose goal was to transform the economy by making the business world “a force for good, contributing to a better world,” where profit and purpose are balanced.

The B Corp movement—formed by companies that achieve this certification—aims to promote this change, creating an inclusive, regenerative, and equitable economic system for people and the planet. It currently includes over 8,680 companies across 162 sectors in 93 countries, all meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

B Corp certification goes beyond environmental aspects and the impact companies have on the planet, encompassing all areas of ESG strategy. In Portugal, the movement started in 2015 and, according to B Lab Portugal, now involves over 50 companies of various sizes and sectors.

B Corp and similar certifications are not formal reporting instruments like EU standards or other legal frameworks used for non-financial reporting. Although aligned with sustainability reporting requirements, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), they do not replace these obligations.

Requirements to Become a B Corp

B Corp certification is holistic, not focusing solely on a social or environmental issue. Companies seeking certification must commit to three key areas:

1. High social and environmental performance: Achieve a score above 80 on the Impact Assessment and receive a positive risk analysis by the certifying body (B Lab Europe).
    
2. Legal accountability: Commit to changing corporate governance structures to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
    
3. Transparency: Allow information on company performance, according to B Lab standards, to be publicly available on the company’s B Corp profile on the B Lab website.
    

The 5 Pillars of B Corp Certification

The impact assessment for B Corp certification evaluates five categories: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.

1. Governance
    

• Concerns the company’s mission, ethics, responsibility, transparency, and integration of vision and values into bylaws.
   
• Evaluates employee, board, and community engagement; access to financial information; opportunities for customer feedback; and diversity in management.
   

1. Workers
    

• Assesses efforts to create positive impacts for employees.
   
• Includes compensation, benefits, training, employee participation (e.g., shares or quotas), communication, work flexibility, occupational health and safety, and overall working conditions.
   

1. Customers
    

• Focuses on how the company serves its customers and provides products or services that support a greater good.
   
• Evaluates added value, essential services (education, health, financial management), marketing ethics, data privacy and security, and feedback channels.
   

1. Environment
    

• Measures efforts to create a sustainable planet by reducing environmental impact across air, climate, water, soil, and biodiversity.
   
• Includes facility operations, materials, emissions, resource and energy use, transportation/distribution, and supply chain environmental impact.
   

1. Community
    

• Analyzes contributions to the economic and social well-being of communities.
   
• Evaluates policies and initiatives impacting the community, including supplier relations, social responsibility (donations, etc.), and diversity.
   

Importance of B Corp Certification

Benefits of B Corp certification arise from recognition of best practices in social and environmental responsibility, increasingly valued by suppliers and customers and crucial for internationalization.

• Competitive advantage: Differentiates B Corps in global markets.
   
• Networking and partnerships: Provides access to a global network for business relationships and collaborative product development.
   
• Trust: Internationally recognized rigorous standards assure stakeholders of the company’s social and environmental accountability.
   
• Continuous improvement: Certification must be renewed every three years, promoting long-term resilience.
   
• Talent attraction: Appeals to employees seeking workplaces that balance environmental respect with employee well-being.
   
• Investment appeal: Companies with strong environmental and social practices are more attractive for public and private funding, including “green finance” programs like PRR or Portugal 2030.
   

How to Obtain B Corp Certification

1. Complete the B Impact Assessment—a free, public online questionnaire scoring the company in the five evaluated areas (Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, Customers).
    
2. If the score exceeds 80, proceed to the next steps: finalize the questionnaire, attend clarification meetings, and submit supporting documentation.
    
3. In Portugal, verification and audit are handled by B Lab Europe, taking approximately six to twelve months.
    
4. Upon certification, the company pays an annual fee based on revenue. Recertification occurs every three years, ensuring continuous adherence to B Corp standards.
    

The certification process is rigorous, requiring engagement from teams across the company, documentation of business models, operational structures, workflows, analysis of public complaints, and potential on-site visits. Recertification confirms ongoing compliance with the standards.