What happens when certification timelines shift unexpectedly? In this episode of Beyond the B, co-hosts Emmy Allison and Ryan Honeyman break down a major update from B Lab Global that accelerates the recertification deadline for some small-to-medium B Corps.
If your B Corp is due to submit for recertification between July 1 and December 31, 2025, and you would like to be evaluated under Version 6 (i.e., the current version of the standards), you must submit your assessment by June 30, 2025 — six months earlier than many of us expected.
If you miss that deadline, or your submission date is in 2026 or later, you will be moved onto the new standards (new B Corps still have until the end of 2025 to submit under Version 6 of the standards).
Listen in as Emmy and Ryan discuss why this deadline shift caught many off guard, what it means for businesses of different sizes, and how companies should respond. Whether you're directly impacted or simply keeping up with the evolving B Corp landscape, this episode is helpful context. Tune in to understand what these changes mean for your company and get expert insights on how to stay ahead of the shifting certification process!
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes
“[There are] complexities around – managing certification processes on two different sets of standards at the same time. – There’s no argument that that's challenging. – It’s how that's communicated and the implications of that announcement – [where] we’d like to see improvements.” — Ryan Honeyman [0:10:22]
“It was pretty difficult to find information on this. – For folks who are not in the U.S. or Canada and re-certifying – [we recommend connecting] with their global partner about that.” — Emmy Allison [0:13:33]
“If you are a newly certified B Corp, this does not affect you. You have until the end of 2025. This is just for re-certifying companies.” — Ryan Honeyman [0:13:47]
“Re-certifying now on version six is what I'm recommending to most people because it [allows] you to bypass the initial learning curve.” — Ryan Honeyman [0:29:54]
“We like to say that folks should start preparing for recertification at least a year in advance. This is an exception to the rule. You should start working on the new standards as soon as possible.” — Emmy Allison [0:32:02]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
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