Beyond the B: Latest on the B Corp Movement

In Part 3 of our “Are B Corps Too Woke?” series, we sit down with Annie Korver and Hayley Roulstone from Rise Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm advancing Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Annie and Hayley offer a powerful invitation to center rights-holders, not just stakeholders, and to embrace a relational approach to impact rooted in trust, reciprocity, and lived experience. View the show...

In this three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with uncomfortable truths. In Part 2, we’re joined by award-winning B Corp leader, educator, and author Nathan Stuck to explore the complex intersection of business, purpose, and politics in today’s polarized climate.  In this e...

In this  three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with some uncomfortable tensions that have emerged in recent years. In Part 1, Raj Aggarwal—founder of Provoc and long-time B Corp leader—joins to explore whether the B Corp movement’s approach to JEDI needs any changes. Drawin...

As the B Corp movement grows across Asia, leaders in Japan, China, and Singapore are finding creative ways to adapt global standards to local cultures, business norms, and social priorities. This episode explores the challenges and breakthroughs of building a values-driven business movement in this important and fast-growing region. View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corps-in-a...

In this episode, Ryan Honeyman is joined by Erinch Sahan (Doughnut Economics Action Lab) and Vincent Stanley (Patagonia) for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about the ongoing tensions within the B Corp movement. From Nespresso to Dr. Bronner’s, we examine the question of whether multinationals threaten the credibility of the B Corp community—or whether they are essential to scaling impact...

In this episode, Grace Son, Senior Manager on the Standards Team at B Lab Global, unpacks the new Government Affairs and Collective Action (GACA) impact topic within B Lab’s updated standards. Drawing from her experience in finance and four years at B Lab, Sun explains how these requirements push companies beyond individual actions toward systemic change through responsible lobbying, collective ac...

B Lab has released its first-ever brand awareness report--providing valuable insights into the current state of recognition for B Corps worldwide. In this episode, we delve into the findings with two influential leaders from B Lab: Charlotte Levitt, the Global Director of Marketing and Communications, and Michele Bradley, the Data Analytics Manager on B Lab's Insights Team. View the show note...

Many people have an opinion about Nespresso becoming a Certified B Corporation. But very few have ever heard their side of the story. In this episode with Lucy Bai, Sustainability Manager for Nespresso US, we strive for a balance of genuine curiosity about the things Nespresso is doing well, and tough but fair questions about places where there is concern. View the show notes: https://go.liftecono...

The new B Corp standards have finally arrived! In this episode, Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison share their first impressions and key takeaways from the 1,130-page update. What’s changed? What’s stayed the same? And what does it all mean for companies striving to build a more just and regenerative economy? Join us as we explore the early implications, the process behind the changes, and what to wat...

Last month, B Lab Global made an announcement that affects some small-to-medium existing B Corps. If your B Corp is due to submit for recertification between July 1 and December 31, 2025, and you would like to be evaluated under Version 6 (i.e., the current version of the standards), you must submit your assessment by June 30, 2025 — six months earlier than many of us expected. If you miss that de...

In this episode, we speak with Marcel Fukayama, co-founder of Din4mo and a key leader in the B Corp movement, to explore the evolving landscape of B Corps, the role of policy in shaping the movement, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.  Marcel shares insights on reducing dependency on philanthropy, navigating governance hurdles, and fostering deeper collaboration among B Corp leaders. He a...

The B Corp movement in the UK is growing at an unprecedented pace. In this episode, Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, and Dyann Heward-Mills, CEO of HewardMills, explore what’s fueling this rapid expansion. From the rise in purpose-driven leadership to the push for systemic change through the Better Business Act, we discuss how UK businesses are embracing B Corp certification and what...

A new initiative called the " Purpose Pledge " launched earlier this week. The timing—coinciding with Dr. Bronner’s decision to decertify as a B Corp—has led to questions about whether Purpose Pledge is designed to compete with B Corp certification. Folks are also understandably confused about why LIFT Economy is involved. In this episode, we set the record straight. What is the Purpose...

In this episode of Beyond the B , co-hosts Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison explore the recent decision by Dr. Bronner’s to decertify as a B Corporation. Ryan kicks off the episode with a monologue offering both a generous interpretation of the decision and constructive feedback on how the announcement could have been handled differently. Then, Emmy and Ryan are joined by Farmer Cee (Clarenda Stanle...

We are sharing this crossover episode from Next Economy Now , our other LIFT podcast highlighting the leaders who that are taking a regenerative, bio-regional, democratic, equitable, racially-just, and whole-systems approach to creating the new economy. Check out all episodes here lifteconomy.com/podcast . How can we move beyond shame and blame to foster collaboration in addressing climate challen...

In this mailbag episode, we give an update on Beyond the B listener stats, answer your questions about the new B Corp standards, share the latest updates from B Lab, and explain how you can already begin to make progress on the new B Corp standards--before their official release! View the show notes . https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/make-progress-on-the-new-b-corp-standards-today

In this episode, Vincent Stanley, longtime Patagonia executive and co-author of The Responsible Company , describes how his company first found out about B Corps, why Patagonia didn't initially join the community, and his thoughts on the arc of the B Corp movement to date. Vincent also highlights the challenges of balancing urgency with patience, fostering localism, and building a business th...

In Part 2, Kevin Bayuk from LIFT Economy returns to continue our discussion about what it could look like to go "beyond B Corp." We explore this topic through the second half of the 10 Principles of Next Economy enterprises, which include: 6) Open source and regionally replicable 7) Transparent 8) Regenerative operations 9) Supports movement building for broader systems change 10) Suppor...

What does it mean to go “beyond B Corp”? LIFT Economy’s Kevin Bayuk explores this question through the lens of the 10 Principles of Next Economy enterprises. In this episode, we go through the first 5 principles: 1) Need-oriented, basic goods and services 2) Inclusive ownership 3) Equitable and democratic culture 4) Supports local economy ecosystem 5) Education embedded into the good or service Th...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the history and evolution of one of the most obscure, fascinating, and constantly evolving aspects of the B Corp movement--the B Corp verification process. We are joined by Kali Gibson, former Co-Director of Certification and Verification for B Lab Global, who shares her firsthand experience of scaling the process, tackling the pandemic backlog, and balanc...

Are any of your clients involved in controversial industries? Tune in to learn more about B Lab's new framework ("Companies with Clients in Controversial Industries") for assessing the nature of your company's involvement with the client, the difference between controversial vs. ineligible industries, and whether you will need to meet additional requirements in order to be elig...

Juan Pablo Larenas, co-founder of Sistema B, discusses the B Corp movement’s global reach and the unique governance hurdles of scaling it internationally. He shares insights on growing the B Corp community, expanding impact, and sustaining collective action globally. Show Notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/sistema-b-juan-pablo-larenas

In this episode, we dive into the prominent role of circularity in the new B Corp standards with Nellie Cohen, creator of Patagonia's Worn Wear project, and Dan Kurzrock, CEO of Upcycled Foods. Nellie and Dan share strategies for transforming waste into value across diverse industries like textiles and food. We also highlight how smaller companies and service-based businesses can integrate ci...

In this episode, Jessica Yinka Thomas shares how B Academics and B Impact Teams are transforming business education and shaping the future of the B Corp community. Show Notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/how-b-academics-grows-the-b-corp-movement

Hosts Emmy Alison and Ryan Honeyman review B Lab's "Second Consultation Summary Report" to determine what has changed with the new requirements, what information is still missing, and what all of this means for the final B Corp standards being released next year. View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-lab-second-consultation-summary-report B Lab's Second Consult...