B Corp Just Got Harder On Purpose. Here Is What Changed for 2026.

The old B Corp scoring system is gone. For years, you could hit 80 points across five impact areas and get certified, even if one of those areas was genuinely weak, as long as another one carried the score. That loophole is closed.

From 2026, B Lab's new standards require minimum performance across all seven mandatory Impact Topics, including Climate Action, Human Rights and Fair Work. No cherry picking. No offsetting a poor environmental record with strong governance.

Photo by Markus Spiske

What is actually different

• Seven mandatory Impact Topics, each with its own minimum bar, rather than one combined score

• Certification is no longer a single pass or fail moment. You meet foundational Year 0 requirements, then commit to higher requirements at Year 3 and Year 5

• Assessments are now carried out by independent third parties under ISO 17021-1, not self assessed

• Meeting the minimum is not enough long term. You have to show measurable improvement over time

  
  

Who this hits first

Every new applicant certifying from January 2026 is on the new standards, full stop. If you are recertifying and your renewal falls in 2026, B Lab has given a 12 month extension, but you are still expected to start the transition now, including a preparatory self assessment.

Why fashion and textile brands should pay particular attention

This sector has historically leaned on governance and community scores to balance out weaker environmental performance, largely because credible environmental data, like Scope 3 emissions across a supply chain, is genuinely hard to get right.

That workaround is gone. If your climate action or human rights performance is thin, no amount of strong governance elsewhere will cover for it now.

What this means for you

• If you are certifying for the first time, budget more time than you think for all seven topic areas, not just the ones you already do well

• If you are recertifying in 2027, start your preparatory self assessment now rather than waiting for your renewal window

• Expect the verification process itself to take longer, since it now runs through an independent third party rather than your own self reported data

I have taken fashion and textile brands through B Corp certification for a few years now, and the brands that handle this kind of change well are the ones that start early and treat every impact area as something to actually fix, not something to manage around.

If you are certifying or recertifying under the new standards and want a second pair of eyes on where your gaps actually are, email or DM me.

Sources

B Lab Knowledge Hub, FAQs: Certifying on B Lab's New Standards. Nexio Projects, B Corp new standards 2025: phased certification, mandatory impact topics, and what it means for your business. The Sustainable Agency, B Corp certification changes and new standards for 2026, explained.