PATHWAYS TO (RE)CERTIFICATION
The final version of the New Standards was published on April 8. Now what?
ID PATHWAYS
Pathways are based on:
whether your company is recertifying or certifying for the first time
an additional consideration is whether your company operates in or sells into the EU due to the impact of the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition directive (ECGT). The current certification model (Version 6) does not comply with ECGT
RECERTIFICATION PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS FOR COMPANIES CERTIFYING FOR THE FIRST TIME
CHOOSE A PATHWAY
Small/Medium Enterprises (SME) with a recertification date in 2025 as well as SMEs certifying for the first time will be able to choose which version of the standards they (re)certify against. The timeline will differ based on the pathway.
CONSIDERATIONS
-
Especially for recertifying SMEs, the window is closing on the option to submit under V6–June 30, 2025. Even SME considering certifying for the first time should begin the process as soon as possible if they intend to submit under V6 before the end of the year. In our client engagements, the timeline from start to submission is typically 3-4 months. Opting to (re)certify under the New Standards will afford your company more time to prepare.
-
Bear in mind that the new standards are more rigorous, so you will need that extra time to understand and comply with the New Standards. While V6 was more policy-driven and metrics based, the New Standards require companies to create intentional impact strategies across multiple Impact Areas as well as demonstrate accountability and continuous improvement.
-
The certification process under the New Standards including the assurance model is still being developed, meaning we do not know exactly what information needs to be submitted and in what format. The certification process for V6 is comparatively clearer.
Regardless of the pathway you choose, we hope that you will choose to double down on your commitment to the B Corp movement. The role of business is more important than ever in creating positive social and environmental impact and the New Standards are without question the gold standard for sustainable business practice.