---
title: Can Your Clients Jeopardize Your B Corp Certification?
description: Can your clients jeopardize your B Corp certification? Explore B Lab's new framework for assessing controversial industries and high risk clients.
image: https://go.lifteconomy.com/hubfs/RH%20Headshot%20-%20High%20Res-1.jpg
---

[Skip to content](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/can-your-clients-jeopardize-your-b-corp-certification#main-content)

- [Home](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond)
- [Episodes](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog)
- [B Corp Consulting](https://www.lifteconomy.com/secrets-of-b-corp-consulting)
- [Newsletter](https://go.lifteconomy.com/b-corp-newsletter)
- [LIFT Website](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/www.lifteconomy.com)
- [Contact](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond-the-b-contact-us)

- [Home](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond)
- [Episodes](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog)
- [B Corp Consulting](https://www.lifteconomy.com/secrets-of-b-corp-consulting)
- [Newsletter](https://go.lifteconomy.com/b-corp-newsletter)
- [LIFT Website](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/www.lifteconomy.com)
- [Contact](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond-the-b-contact-us)

# Can Your Clients Jeopardize Your B Corp Certification?

 Nov 26, 2024 6:00:00 AM  |

[B Corp](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/tag/b-corp), [Certified B Corporations](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/tag/certified-b-corporations)

![](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hubfs/RH%20Headshot%20-%20High%20Res-1.jpg)

[![Apple Podcasts](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Apple%20Podcasts.png?width=320&height=80&name=Apple%20Podcasts.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-b/id1747076048) [![Spotify](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spotify.png?width=320&height=80&name=Spotify.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/5VbeWzAQbsFJ8P3fYEwIFd?si=a8168125c74743f0) [![YouTube](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube.png?width=321&height=81&name=YouTube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7FRLOLWqkH6_tUO8oc7nU71oZvUkfDec)

How do the new B Corp standards impact companies with clients in controversial industries? In this episode of *Beyond the B*, Ryan Honeyman dives into the November 18, 2024, [updates released by B Lab](https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/standards/companies-with-clients-in-controversial-industries/). These updates introduce a framework to evaluate companies working with clients in sectors deemed controversial or ineligible. Ryan breaks down the implications for businesses aiming to align with the B Corp movement’s values.

Ryan explores the new classifications, pathways, and thresholds outlined in the standards. These include a nuanced approach to categorizing industries, the three levels of involvement (associated, linked, and contributing to adverse impacts), and how revenue thresholds influence B Corp eligibility. Throughout, he provides examples and discusses the challenges of applying these rules in practice.

**Key Points From This Episode:**

- The distinction between controversial and ineligible industries in the new standards.
- Explanation of the three levels of company involvement: associated, linked, and contributing to adverse impacts.
- Examples of controversial industries: recreational marijuana, nuclear power, and debt collection agencies.
- Examples of ineligible industries: fossil fuel production, gambling, and tobacco.
- Pathways to B Corp certification based on client industry and involvement level.
- The rationale for the 1% revenue threshold for clients in ineligible industries.
- How these updates align with international due diligence frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
- Potential challenges and unanswered questions within the B Corp community about applying these standards.
- Feedback for B Lab on improving communication and phased rollouts of major updates.

**Quotations:**

- "We must think ahead: do we want to continue working with these industries in 5–10 years?" — Ryan Honeyman
- "Recreational marijuana’s inclusion as a controversial industry has sparked debate—is it any worse than alcohol or bottled water?" — Ryan Honeyman
- "The 1% revenue threshold provides some wiggle room but challenges companies to align with the movement’s values." — Ryan Honeyman

**Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:**

- <https://bcorporation.net>B Lab's New Guidance for Companies with Clients in Controversial Industries: [https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/standards/companies-with-clients-in-controversial-industries/](https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/standards/companies-with-clients-in-controversial-industries/)
- Ryan Honeyman on LinkedIn: [https://linkedin.com/in/ryanhoneyman](https://linkedin.com/in/ryanhoneyman)<https://linkedin.com/in/ryanhoneyman>
- Lift Economy: [www.lifteconomy.com](http://www.lifteconomy.com)<https://lifteconomy.com>

**We Want to Hear from You**

We want to hear from you! Email us at [beyond@lifteconomy.com](mailto:beyond@lifteconomy.com) with requests for content, suggestions for future guests, and feedback about our episodes.

**B Corp Consultant**

Interested in certifying, recertifying, or maximizing the value of your B Corp certification? [Learn more about our B Corp consulting services](https://www.lifteconomy.com/secrets-of-b-corp-consulting) at LIFT Economy.

Help Us Grow the Show!

We are trying to grow our audience and wanted to ask you a huge favor.

Try to think of one person that might like this show. Then, pull out your phone, and text them something like:

Hey, I think you might like this new podcast [Beyond the B](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond). Check it out at [lifteconomy.com/beyond](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond). You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Seriously! Take out your phone and try it right now! Then, follow up with them to see how they liked it.

This would be super helpful for us. We deeply appreciate your support. 😊

Gratitude:

Thank you to Corey Lien and Nozomii Torii for being our monthly contributors at Beyond the B!

[Become a Monthly Supporter of Beyond the B!](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2362873/support)

 

## Recent episodes

[![](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bernard%20portrait%203.jpg?width=750&name=Bernard%20portrait%203.jpg)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-jedi-w/-bernard-gouw)

## [V2 Standards: JEDI (w/ Bernard Gouw)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-jedi-w/-bernard-gouw)

[![](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Douglas%20Lamont%20-%20Press%20Shot%20%281%29%20-%20Sabrina%20Hall-1.jpg?width=750&name=Douglas%20Lamont%20-%20Press%20Shot%20%281%29%20-%20Sabrina%20Hall-1.jpg)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/tonys-chocolonely-mission-lock-open-chain-b-corps-w/-douglas-lamont)

## [Tony’s Chocolonely: Mission Lock, Open Chain, & B Corps (w/ Douglas Lamont)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/tonys-chocolonely-mission-lock-open-chain-b-corps-w/-douglas-lamont)

[![](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bernard%20portrait%2012.jpg?width=750&name=Bernard%20portrait%2012.jpg)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-human-rights-w/-bernard-gouw)

## [V2 Standards: Human Rights (w/ Bernard Gouw)](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-human-rights-w/-bernard-gouw)

### Recent Episodes

Get our free B Corp Values Assessment and insider tips on the B Corp movement.

[View All Episodes](https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog)  |  [Contact Us](https://go.lifteconomy.com/beyond-the-b-contact-us)  |  [LIFT Economy Website](https://www.lifteconomy.com) 

[![LIFT Logo copy](https://go.lifteconomy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LIFT%20Logo%20copy.jpg?width=129&height=100&name=LIFT%20Logo%20copy.jpg "LIFT Logo copy")](https://www.lifteconomy.com)

[Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LIFTEconomy/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/2189278/admin/feed/posts/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/LIFTEconomy) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lifteconomy/)

![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=3469516&fmt=gif)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Ryan Honeyman",
    "url" : "https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/author/ryan-honeyman"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-04-09T22:51:43.993Z",
  "datePublished" : "2024-11-26T11:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Can Your Clients Jeopardize Your B Corp Certification?",
  "image" : [ "https://go.lifteconomy.com/hubfs/RH%20Headshot%20-%20High%20Res-1.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/can-your-clients-jeopardize-your-b-corp-certification",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject"
    },
    "name" : "LIFT Economy"
  }
}
```