A B Corporation is a business that balances purpose and profit, meeting the highest standard of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. It is a global community consisting of over 4,000 companies in 153 industries across 77 countries, unified towards one common goal. The certification process is rigorous and thorough- called the B Impact Assessment- assesses the impact of the company’s operations and business model on workers, the community, the environment, and customers. To ensure that these values are adhered to in the long term, the B Corp certification commits the company to consider stakeholder impact for the long term by building it into the company’s legal structure.

What is a pending B Corp?

Pending B Corps are for early-stage companies that need a way to signal to stakeholders they are on track to certifying as a B Corp. Becoming a pending B Corp means that companies go through the B Impact Assessment with best estimate answers and meet the legal requirement for certification. Companies can seek a pending B Corp certification to demonstrate strong governance from the beginning, adopting the legal framework early to protect mission and brand equity.