The global B Corp movement
The B Corp movement
B Lab™ began in 2006 with the idea that a different kind of economy was not only possible—it was necessary.
In our current economic system, short-term gains are prioritised over long-term value; profit over people and the planet, creating inequality, extraction and degradation.
B Lab's founders Andrew Kassoy, Bart Houlahan, and Jay Coen Gilbert believed there was a better way to do business: better for workers, better for communities, and better for the planet. Their collective experience as entrepreneurs, operators, and investors had shown them that business was responsible for many of the social and environmental problems we face, but that it also has a unique opportunity to address these same challenges at scale.
The heart of the movement: B Corps
B Lab became known for certifying B Corporations™, companies that meet verified standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. But we do much more than that.
What we do
We help mobilise a global community of businesses committed to collective action on society’s most critical challenges. We work with leaders across industries, geographies, and sizes who have the vision to fundamentally reimagine their company’s operations: not just pursuing easy wins, but driving hard structural shifts. It’s this diversity that gives us the platform to effect wider change. As we grow, we intentionally become more representative of what a new economy can look like.
Shift corporate behaviour
B Lab provides the tools and programs helping the private sector manage and improve its social and environmental impact, increasing accountability and transparency.
As of 2024, the movement is powered by over 319,000 B Impact Assessment users and 40,000 SDG Action Manager users globally, all working to benchmark and improve their impact.
Advocate for policy change
Around the world, B Lab continues to help shape policies grounded in our standards and stakeholder governance model, mobilising B Corps and business leaders to push for legislative change that benefits people and the planet.
In the UK, we lead the Better Business Act coalition. This advocacy campaign calls on the UK government to amend Section 172 of the Companies Act so that every company in the UK—not just B Corps—aligns social and environmental impact with shareholder returns.
Influence culture
We bring people together to share stories and build the belief that a different way of doing business is not only possible in the future, but already happening today. By amplifying credible stories, we change the narrative of what ‘success’ in business looks like.
Campaigns and events like B Corp Month and Louder Than Words unite and inspire the B Corp community, private sector leaders, academics, and policymakers to work towards building an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
Our global network
We are proud to be part of the B Global Network, powering the B Corp Movement in the UK. Together, we build local partnerships and drive collective action within our region, reshaping the economy to prioritise people and the planet.