Recent changes to B Corp standards

20 May 2026 | posted in Corporate and business law

This insight is part of our Business Law newsletter | Spring 2026 series. Explore the full series at the end of this piece.

There have been widely reported changes to B Corp certification and standards. The changes, formally launched in April 2026, introduce a more rigorous certification process with the shift away from points-based scoring to mandatory requirements for B Corp businesses to meet certain “non-negotiable” standards across seven “impact topics”, with attainment verified by a third-party audit. Previously, if a B Corp business scored poorly in one category, it could make up for it by scoring highly in other categories, but this is no longer the case.

While much of the recent commentary on B Corp certification has focused on the more demanding and detailed assessment process, not every element of the framework has been subject to change. In particular, the “B Corp legal requirement” has remained a constant feature of B Corp certification.

Here, we explore how understanding and complying with this obligation is essential for businesses considering certification for the first time.

B Corp legal requirement

Despite the extensive changes to B Corp certification and standards, all companies seeking B Corp status must still meet the B Corp legal requirement. This requires the company to update its articles of association to include prescribed wording that legally commits the company to create a material positive impact on society and the environment and consider “stakeholder interests”, such as its shareholders, employees and suppliers, as well as the wider society and the environment.

The timing for the adoption of the company’s new articles of association will depend on the size of the company. There is also different wording for different legal entities, such as community interest companies and limited liability partnerships.

It is important that companies seeking B Corp certification follow the correct procedure for updating their articles of association. Briefly:

The company’s directors should review the B Corp legal requirement, consider its alignment with the company’s existing constitutional documents, and agree the process and timetable for making the amendments to the company’s articles of association.
The company’s directors consult key internal stakeholders regarding the proposed changes for review and feedback.
The directors approve the proposed legal change and formally resolve to seek shareholder approval.
A special resolution, requiring at least 75% shareholder support, is proposed and passed to amend the company’s articles of association.
The relevant documentation, including a copy of the amended articles of association, is filed with Companies House.

Help from the experts

Each organisation should consider its own specific requirements for adopting the B Corp legal requirement and obtain specialist legal advice to full compliance.

At Moore SGD Law, we have extensive experience in assisting clients with the legal aspects of their B Corp applications. Please get in touch with Harry Dronfield if you would like to discuss how we can help your business with seeking B Corp certification.

This article is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances.