As Our TrailBlazers Learned, When You’re Recertifying, You’re Not Alone: Resources Can Meet You Where You Are

The companies in our Trailblazers Program were among the first to prepare for B Corp™ recertification under the B Lab™ Standards V2. The program offered assistance in two main forms: expert guidance from consultants and community support from others in their cohort.

The TrailBlazers were introduced to one another, and they met at least once monthly alongside their guiding consultants. During these gatherings, they had the opportunity to bring questions to their consultants and to B Lab U.S. & Canada’s community support team.

Perhaps more importantly, the participants had the opportunity to interact with each other, comparing policies, strategies, processes, and targets. These comparisons often led to breakthroughs. Companies were able to share relevant information and inspiration, even when their paths to recertification looked markedly different. They built stronger momentum, too, not only from the insights gained but also the feeling that they were working with other professionals, ones who shared their ultimate destination.

Although our TrailBlazer companies had the pilot program to thank in large part for these interactions and resources, know that these weren’t unique to the program! They are available to anyone at any time.

Even if you think you’re facing recertification under the new standards by yourself, you’re not. There is support, and it reaches further than most companies realize. Below, we’ve listed some of the primary options you have for organizing peer meetups, attending group sessions, finding documentation in the B Lab resource library, and reaching out for expert support.

Group Reading of the B Lab Standards V2 Often Leads to Enlightenment

While the B Lab Standards V2 are much more detailed and comprehensive than their predecessors, they are also designed to reflect many different journeys.

Each company has its own path to achieving its first recertification and maintaining that certification for years to come. Over time, the standards grow more rigorous, as companies’ systems and policies are expected to mature as they add years of B Corp experience under their belt.

The standards are also tailored to industry, company size, and other key parameters. This variance means that the criteria that apply to a multinational health conglomerate won’t be identical to those that apply to a farmer distributing fresh produce locally.

Each company needs to gain a sense of what their personal journey looks like while separating all the criteria that don’t apply (either temporarily or permanently).

What they need, in other words, is help with wayfinding. Many TrailBlazers discovered that the most effective method for that was to simply read through the standards as a group. They could then compare perspectives with their peers to determine which criteria applied collectively, versus those that would only apply to a company with a specific size, certification maturity level, or business model.

Many of our participating companies overcame their initial concerns around the new standards as they started to read them in community, identifying which elements could inform the groundwork to recertification and where the gaps were in their current capabilities.

Our TrailBlazers had the added advantage of being guided by experienced B Corp Consultants Rebecca Coffey and Sonia Tze Huse from Impact Growth Partners. The two consultants helped participants understand the requirements that applied to their company’s size and industry as well as the extent to which they were meeting them already.

“Without someone to give us the context around what was needed,” shared Elaine Komusi of Eminence Organics Skincare, “the team might have given up.”

For some companies, working with an outside B Corp consultant is the right idea. All companies, though, can gather a group of committed internal stakeholders to read through the standards, identify which ones apply, and build a path to clear any gaps. Interacting with industry peers and fellow B Corps can make this process even easier (and more rewarding!).

Every company in the Trailblazers program started off feeling overwhelmed and ended the program feeling like the standards were feasible. This progress all began through the simple act of reading the standards alongside others.

Peer Connections Generated Momentum (While Also Building Enduring Fellowship)

Walking through the new standards with a colleague or a consultant had another surprising benefit beyond quelling concerns: deeper internal engagement and better alignment with the new standards.

Rather than being “the only internal (B Corp) expert”, Kelly Hilovsky of ButcherBox discovered that the combination of an outside Consultant voice and a team of engaged, cross-departmental leaders made the process of adopting the new standards more efficient and productive.

Peer connections added another layer of support. Once program participants understood the gaps they faced in achieving Year 0 compliance, their peers who faced similar requirements often became a valuable source of practical advice and reassurance.

Within the cohort, connections developed through regular gatherings and topic-specific sessions. Many of these connections have continued to endure after the conclusion of the program, precisely because they revealed themselves to be quite valuable.

Any B Corp can find similar community support through B Lab’s B Hive forum, join a B Network, and attend B Lab-hosted events, like B Local™ gatherings and the Champions Retreat.

Kelly said the retreat and peer calls left her feeling “more at ease.” Annie Agle of Cotopaxi asked group members to continue meeting quarterly after the program ended, not wanting those relationships to end at the conclusion of the TrailBlazers program.

Find Your Community to Find Your Path to B Corp Recertification

Champions Retreat 2024 attendees enjoy a guided tour in Vancouver’s Stanley Park

The individual relationships built between our TrailBlazers are part of something larger: a strong, global B Corp movement.

This is a unique time in the B Corp community, one where every B Corp globally is in the same boat of adopting a new set of standards. This shared challenge is leveling the playing field while making companies even more willing to exchange ideas, examples, and lessons learned.

Free B Lab tools and an active B Corp community are available to every company, regardless of budget. Even teams working outside of a cohort or without a consultant can draw on the experience of thousands of other B Corps. They can also easily access self-help tools through resources provided by B Lab U.S. & Canada and B Lab global.

Certification asks a great deal of a small team, but it encourages that team to connect with a global community that’s ready and eager to help. You can start with the self-assessment and find your nearest B Local chapter. When you want a guide, the B Consultants Directory is there for you, too.

Have a story you want to share about your recertification journey? Tell us, and it may be featured on B The Change!