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Becoming a B Corp without wasting months on red tape ! Our certified B Leader expert will guide you to make the process clear, fast, and tailored to your business.
97% of customers of Mon Entreprise Durable say they have carried out their CSR projects without slowing down their business operations.
2025: A Year of Change for B Corp
Since April 2025, B Corp certification standards have undergone significant changes to meet growing expectations regarding social and environmental responsibility. Certification is no longer based simply on a points system but on the strict validation of mandatory criteria across seven key areas. These changes are significant for your company in Switzerland and Europe, as they require you to adapt quickly and prepare thoroughly.
Why these new standards? A response to current challenges
These changes stem from a desire to address criticism related to greenwashing and the need for greater transparency. The new B Corp requirements are also fully aligned with recent European guidelines such as the CSRD and the European Green Taxonomy. This strengthens the credibility of the certification while helping your company effectively meet the expectations of stakeholders, investors, and consumers, who are increasingly vigilant about these issues.
Foundations: the essential prerequisites
First and foremost, there are three essential criteria you must meet to become or remain a B Corp in 2025:
- Eligibility: your company must have been in existence for at least 12 months, comply with all local laws, and be fully transparent about its activities.
- Multi-stakeholder governance: You must formally incorporate the interests of stakeholders (employees, customers, local communities) into your governance model, in particular by adopting the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence.
- Risk assessment: identifying and proactively managing the social and environmental risks associated with your business is now a formal requirement.
The 7 impact themes: the new pillars of certification
The new certification is based on seven key areas. Here’s exactly what you need to know:
- Governance and purpose: clearly integrate your social and environmental mission into your overall strategy, and demonstrate its practical application through your decisions.
- Climate action: you must have a precise, measurable plan to limit your global warming to 1.5°C, validated by scientific methodologies such as those of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
- Human rights: you are now required to conduct regular, documented assessments of your potential and actual impacts on human rights throughout your supply chain.
- Fair work: guarantee your teams fair working conditions, promote their well-being and offer them an environment that enhances their professional development.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI): implement an explicit policy that actively promotes inclusion, diversity and equity at all levels of your organization.
- Environment and circularity: commit to a true circular economy strategy by drastically minimizing your waste and increasing the sustainability and recycling of your resources.
- Public affairs and collective action: your company needs to actively participate in collaborative initiatives that promote broader, systemic societal and environmental change.
A step-by-step process: a gradual build-up of power
The implementation of the new B Corp standards is taking place gradually in three distinct phases:
- Year 0 (now): make sure you fully meet the fundamental criteria to avoid jeopardizing your current certification.
- Year 3: implement your initial action plans and start systematically measuring your progress.
- Year 5: Present concrete results demonstrating your improvements in all required areas. At this stage, your efforts must be clearly visible and measurable for recertification.
Implications for Swiss and European companies
Switzerland has always had an environment conducive to sustainability thanks to its high standards. Companies like Weleda and Patagonia Switzerland perfectly illustrate how to anticipate and integrate these new standards. By following these examples, your company can not only comply with the new B Corp requirements but also capitalize on this investment to strengthen your position in the Swiss and European markets.
However, don’t underestimate the challenges: these new standards require a profound transformation of your culture and processes. To stay relevant and competitive, you’ll need to quickly adapt your business strategies and practices.
How to prepare effectively? Our recommendations
Here are five essential tips to help you prepare your company for these new requirements:
- Conduct a self-assessment immediately based on the new B Corp criteria. Find out exactly where you stand in relation to these new requirements.
- Review your governance in depth. Make sure your governance clearly includes stakeholder consideration.
- Develop detailed action plans for each impact area. Set yourself clear, achievable goals for the short, medium and long term.
- Train and raise awareness among all your employees. The more your team is involved, the greater the commitment to change and the faster the results.
- Work with recognized experts in the field of CSR and B Corp certifications, such as those at Mon Entreprise Durable. Our certification support program ensures you receive optimal, customized preparation.
An opportunity for positive transformation
These new B Corp standards should not be viewed as an additional administrative burden, but rather as an exceptional opportunity to strengthen your CSR strategy and your market positioning. By adopting these new requirements, you will be able to demonstrate your commitment to a sustainable and responsible economy in a tangible way.
Your company will then be better equipped to meet the growing expectations of consumers and investors, while making a positive contribution to society and the environment. Preparing today for the new B Corp standards means choosing to become an influential driver of sustainable change, capable of balancing economic performance with social impact.
Not sure where to start when get started with your CSR efforts ? Take action and develop your action plan with our experts
