An update on the wait times for B Corp Certification
By Bart Houlahan, Co-founder of B Lab Global
25.07.2022
Since 2020, we’ve seen a massive surge in interest in B Corp Certification, with over 6,000 applications in the last two years. This is the leadership from business our present moment requires. It’s been heartening to see the number of companies prepared to make substantive changes to the way they operate to have a more positive impact on people and the planet. The UK in particular has seen an astonishing rate of growth, with the community growing to over 850 B Corps as of this month.
Nevertheless, this unprecedented scale has its challenges. Wait times from submission to the start of the verification process have soared to over 12 months for some. We recognise that’s meant a long wait in your journey to become a B Corporation, something you have worked hard to achieve and are deservedly proud of.
If we were a traditional business, we’d raise capital to invest ahead of growth, but as a non-profit, it is more challenging to assemble that growth capital in the form of philanthropy. As an organisation with a mission to build a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system, the integrity of B Lab’s standards and the verification process for Certification is everything. We have worked hard to grow our team and to innovate, including creating outside partnerships for verification, to ensure that the B Corp Certification is trusted as a leading standard for business impact.
I’m happy to tell you that there is now light at the end of the tunnel. By the end of this year, we will have increased our verification team by 400% in 24 months, creating the necessary capacity to provide better customer service to you all. We should return to a more reasonable timeline to certification by the end of the year, while still maintaining the credibility and integrity of our standards and processes.
It is an extraordinary moment for the B Corp movement. As the world grapples with the devastating effects of climate change and accelerating wealth and income inequality, we are at a true inflection point in the broader movement to use business as a force for good. At B Lab, we are inspired by your leadership. It matters more than ever. Thank you for your partnership and your patience.