What is a B Corp?

IMPACT 101: Thousands of firms – including Patagonia, Triodos, Nespresso and The Guardian – now boast a ‘B’ symbol. But what exactly is a B Corp? How does certification work – and what criticisms does it face? Our expert contributor Adam Garfunkel has the answers. Note: this page was updated on 15 July 2025 to reflect new B Corp standards issued in April 2025. These come into force in 2026: some companies are already preparing to certify against them, while others are still certifying against the existing standards.