So things are changing in the B Impact Assessment. When I started hearing rumblings many months ago, I was torn between excitement and dread. I have spent a lot of time elbow deep in the BIA, and the announced changes will address a lot of concerns that folks in the community have voiced – a need for stronger standards in different categories, worry about global crises like climate change not being adequately addressed, and relevance to different business types and sizes. However, a good amount of my marketing and professional development will have to be updated to reflect the new BIA. Future me is looking at a lot of desk work!
The big question facing my clients is whether or not to postpone starting the certification process. My answer: no. There can be so much work involved with getting certified that it is much better to start now. Take a combined approach of answering the current B Impact Assessment questions while staying up to date with what B Lab is saying they will prioritize in the new BIA. They have released numerous articles stating what to focus on in company practices and how to begin preparing for changes.
Each company will have a different experience with the new BIA. If you weren’t able to be certified in the past, you might have a better chance now, while others will be thrown off their path by the requirements across categories. The move away from the 80 point threshold greatly changes how the B Impact Assessment can be approached.
On the bright side, this new BIA – one focused on addressing the world’s biggest problems, painting a picture of responsible business leadership, and offering strong standards – will allow companies to continuously improve their impact on people, planet, and profit.
-Colleen, Founder of Spearpoint Strategies
2 responses to “B Impact Assessment Changes – Reflection”
Thanks for writing this! Although I’m still a ways off on creating sustainability in my fledging little company I’m still seriously considering and thinking about all this. The changes to the B Impact Assessment sound exciting and challenging. I appreciate your balanced perspective, especially since one of the things I’m about is starting projects before you are 100% ready.
I am curious about how businesses can best prepare for the transition away from the 80-point threshold. Do you have any specific strategies or resources you recommend to stay ahead of these changes?
That is an excellent question! B Lab has been releasing articles about why the standards are being changed and what to expect in each of the new nine impact categories. Going through these articles gives an idea of what the mandatory requirements could be for your organization. You can then prioritize the questions in the current BIA that you feel most align with what is expected in the new, upcoming BIA.
Because the rollout of the new BIA will take a long time, continuing to use the point system as a guideline for certification is best, as companies submitting for approval in 2025 will likely still be under the point system.