What is a B Corp? - B Lab Benelux

B Corps exists for “benefit”—for people and the planet, not just shareholders.

Let’s start at the beginning, and by beginning we mean: what the ‘B’ stands for. The B in B Corp stands for ‘Benefit’—for people and the planet, not just shareholders. Certified B Corporations™, or B Corps™, are companies verified as meeting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

This is also known as ‘stakeholder governance’ and essentially means that a company distinctly prioritises those who have an interest or a ‘stake’ in its performance and outcomes. That means people (workers, customers, suppliers, investors, regulators), the community more broadly, and the environment are all on an equal footing with profit.

Operating a business with more than profit is a fundamental part of being a B Corp. B Corps are for-profit businesses; they exist to make money. It’s just that they don’t only exist to make money.

How to become a B Corp Get to know the community

B Corps are companies that:

To become a B Corp, a company must meet the Foundation Requirements and Impact Topic Requirements under the B Lab Standards.

1

Foundation Requirements

A B Corps meets the eligibility requirements for B Corp Certification and adopts the B Corp legal requirement while commiting to supporting the B Corp community’s collective purpose.

2

Impact Topic Requirements

A B Corp is required to meet and continuously improve upon performance requirements that focus on its operations, value chain, and stakeholders across seven environmental, social, and governance impact areas.

Learn how to certify as a B Corp

Read our article: What B Corp Certification is—and what it’s not

A checklist, a marketing label, a club of perfect companies? Time to bust all these myths about B Corp Certification. Because what is B Corp really—and just as importantly, what is it not?

Read the article

B Corp is more than a certification

B Corp Certification goes beyond a single product or service—it evaluates a company’s entire operations and business model. It reflects a commitment on social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

The BIA is a holistic assessment that measures your impact on the business as a whole: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

B Corps legally commit to considering the impact of their business decisions on all stakeholders.

B Corp is a global movement of businesses supporting each other to improve and drive global change.

Certified B Corps show they continuously work on their impact and improve their performance over time.

B Impact™

B Impact™ is B Lab’s digital platform, designed to help businesses measure, manage, and improve their impact—whether you’re working toward B Corp Certification, tracking progress against sustainability goals, or managing your company’s social and environmental performance.

Start your assessment Learn more about the B Impact

Learn how to become a certified B Corp

Looking to join the B Corp movement? Visit our “How to certify as a B Corp?” webpage and dive into more detail about the process.

How to certify as a B Corp

Frequently Asked Questions

Curious about what it means to be a B Corp? Explore our FAQ section for answers to common questions about the certification process and the movement.

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Who is eligible for B Corp Certification?

With the exception of circumstances outlined on our Controversial Issues page, any established for-profit company with at least one year in operation may pursue B Corp Certification. There is no minimum or maximum size. Certain companies, such as those under a year old, those with related entities, or large multinational and public companies, may have additional considerations and requirements.
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What does it mean if a company is a B Corp?
Certified B Corporations™, or B Corps™, are companies verified as meeting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
1. It has verified social & environmental performance. The company completes the Self Assessment, and meets both the Foundation Requirements and Impact Topic Requirements.
2. It mission-locks its company. The company legally commits to considering the impact of its decisions on all stakeholders—a model known as stakeholder governance.
3. It embraces transparency. The company publishes its profile on the B Corp Directory, transparently showing its performance measured against B Lab's standards.
Learn more here.
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How much does it cost to be a B Corp?

Certified B Corporations pay an annual certification fee, which licenses them to use intellectual property like the Certified B Corp logo. This fee varies depending on size and structure. Visit this pricing page for further information.
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Are there B Corps in my area?

Probably! There are Certified B Corps in more than 105 countries around the world. Use our Benelux Directory for B Corps in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Looking for B Corps worldwide? Then the B Corp Global Directory is your go-to. You can search by keyword, location, or industry.
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What is the difference between B Corporation and Benefit Corporation?

B Corp is a certification. Benefit Corporation is a legal form. Benefit Corporations and Certified B Corporations are often confused. The B Corp Certification is a third-party certification. The Benefit Corporation is a legal structure for a business, which exists in 34 states across USA, Italy and Colombia. Benefit Corporations are legally empowered to pursue positive stakeholder impact alongside profit. Some companies are both Certified B Corporations and Benefit Corporations, and the Benefit Corporation structure fulfills the legal accountability requirement of B Corp Certification.
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What is the difference between a B Corp and a Social Enterprise?

We’re different, but highly aligned. B Corps are for-profit businesses that commit to creating a significant positive impact on society and the environment through their operations. Companies certify as B Corps by earning points on the B Impact Assessment, which evaluates their business practices and whether their business model addresses specific social or environmental challenges. Their score is independently verified by B Lab.

In the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, there is a growing awareness of businesses’ role in driving positive change. The region has a strong tradition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship, supported by initiatives such as social enterprises, cooperatives, and impact-driven organizations. These models often focus on reinvesting profits for social good or ensuring long-term sustainability.

While some social enterprises in the Benelux region also certify as B Corps, the majority of B Corps do not necessarily classify themselves as social enterprises under national definitions. B Lab’s mission is to build upon the inspiring work of social enterprises and extend it to mainstream businesses—ensuring they apply the same level of transparency, accountability, and impact measurement to their social and environmental performance as they do to their financial returns. This approach creates an opportunity to drive change at scale and redefine the role of business in society.

For more details on social enterprise frameworks in the region, see organizations such as Social Enterprise NL (Netherlands), Social Enterprise Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Impact Ecosystem.

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What information do Certified B Corps have to make transparent?

All Certified B Corps share their B Impact Assessment overall scores and category scores on their public profiles on our Global Directory. Public companies and their subsidiaries have extra transparency requirements and make their entire B Impact Assessment public, with particularly sensitive information like revenue redacted. Companies that have material items, such as lawsuits, on their Disclosure Questionnaire may also be required to make that disclosure transparent as well.
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