The New B Corp Standards: JEDI and Creating Fair, Inclusive Businesses

The B Corp Certification has long stood as a symbol of ethical, sustainable, and people-focused business. Now, major changes to the B Corp standards are setting a new benchmark. These updates are the most significant yet, redefining what it truly means to run a responsible and inclusive business in today’s world.

What’s New in the B Corp Standards?

B Lab—the nonprofit organisation behind B Corp Certification—has updated its standards to require measurable improvements across seven key categories:

• Governance (how companies are led)
• Workers (how employees are treated)
• Community (supporting and enriching local communities)
• Environment (protecting the planet)
• Customers (treating consumers fairly)
• Disclosure (being open and transparent)
• Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) (fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces)

No longer is it enough for companies to simply meet the minimum criteria. Certified B Corps must now continuously demonstrate tangible progress in all areas, particularly in equity and inclusion.

Spotlight on JEDI: Prioritising Fairness and Inclusion

Among the most transformative updates is the new JEDI requirement—Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. This category challenges companies to:

• Gather data and feedback from employees and stakeholders.
• Understand and address inequalities affecting different identity groups.
• Implement real actions that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To meet these requirements, companies must collect voluntary data on social identities (like gender or ethnicity), analyse the results, and use that information to improve policies and workplace culture. They are also expected to share their goals and progress transparently.

Actions could include:

• Inclusive hiring practices
• Support for employee resource groups
• Mentorship programmes
• Accessibility audits
• Public advocacy for equity

These changes create a foundation for safer, more equitable workplaces where everyone can thrive.

What Do These Changes Mean for Companies?

For existing B Corps, these updates demand a deeper commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusion. Maintaining certification will mean showing year-on-year improvement and acting on stakeholder feedback.

For new applicants, the standards set a higher entry bar. But they also provide a clear roadmap for building a purpose-driven, sustainable, and inclusive business from the start.

While the new standards may seem demanding, they represent an opportunity—pushing companies to lead with integrity and inspire meaningful change.

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What is Includability?

Includability is a UK-based global platform and community that supports organisations of all sizes on their journey to becoming more inclusive, sustainable, and purpose-led. Whether you're a solopreneur, a growing small business, or an established enterprise, Includability offers scalable support tailored to your context.

We work with a diverse range of organisations—from household names like Ella’s Kitchen, Holland & Barrett, Liverpool FC, and Danone, to B Corps and smaller mission-led teams—helping them improve their culture, align with frameworks like B Corp, and achieve long-lasting impact.

How Includability Can Support Your B Corp Journey

Navigating the new B Corp requirements—especially JEDI—can be challenging. That’s where Includability comes in.

We provide:

• Training for teams, leaders and managers on equity, inclusion, mental health, and unconscious bias. About Training >
• Employee Surveys that align with B Lab’s data collection criteria.
• Support in developing JEDI action plans based on real data and feedback from our 6 stage verification process. About Membership >
• Access to networks and communities, including our Community Support Groups and exclusive content. About the Community >
• Ongoing consultancy and guidance to help you build and track sustainable, measurable impact.
  

Whether you're looking to achieve certification or strengthen your existing credentials, we’ll help you embed the values that B Corp now expects.

Ready to Build a Better Business?

The updated B Corp standards mark a new era for purpose-led companies. They ask more—but they also offer more: clarity, credibility, and the chance to lead with impact.

Joining Includability today will help you take the next step towards certification, cultural transformation, and measurable progress in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and more.

Book a call with Dave to learn how we are supporting businesses in meeting the new B Corp standards. Email Dave

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