Beyond the B: Latest on the B Corp Movement

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.lifteconomy.com/blog/nespresso-b-corpCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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 watch for as implementation begins.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-key-takeawaysCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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 deadline, or your submission date is in 2026 or later, you will be moved onto the new standards (new B Corps still have until the end of 2025 to submit under Version 6 of the standards).Emmy and Ryan explore why this change caught many off guard, what it means for businesses of different sizes, and how companies can navigate the revised timeline. Whether you’re directly affected or just keeping up with the evolving B Corp landscape, this episode offers essential insights to help you stay prepared.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/last-call-current-version-v6-b-corp-standardsCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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 also reflects on the impact of COVID on the movement and the urgent need to reconnect with its core purpose.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-ecosystem-building-policy-marcel-fukayamaCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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 this means for the future of ethical enterprise.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-growth-in-the-ukCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

Kevin Bayouk from LIFT Economy, a key player in the Purpose Pledge initiative, dives into the exciting intersection of purpose and profits. He clarifies misconceptions about the Purpose Pledge and B Corp certification, emphasizing their complementary nature. The conversation highlights how the Purpose Pledge pushes companies to prioritize societal and environmental impacts. Bayouk also discusses the initiative's mission to foster collaborative practices aimed at transforming the business landscape for a more sustainable future.

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 Stanley), CEO of Green Heffa Farms and a leader in the B Corp community. As a Black woman in regenerative agriculture, a small business owner, and the first company to go through the B Lab Level program, Farmer Cee shares her candid reaction to Dr. Bronner’s decision. She discusses the implications for small and historically excluded businesses, the importance of maintaining rigorous yet accessible standards, and the broader impact on the B Corp community.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/dr-bronners-decertifies-as-a-b-corpCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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 challenges? In this episode, Jenny Morgan, climate strategist and author of Cancel Culture in Climate, discusses the intersection of B Corps, cancel culture, regenerative economics, and sustainable business practices.For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/jenny-morgan/Certifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

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-todayCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

Vincent Stanley, a longtime Patagonia executive and co-author of The Responsible Company, shares insights on Patagonia's journey with the B Corp movement. He discusses the initial hesitance to join B Lab and the operational revelations that followed. Balancing urgency with patience in sustainability is a key theme, as is the importance of localism and community engagement. Vincent also explores the challenges of integrating large companies into the B Corp framework and emphasizes the need for businesses to align values with their models for lasting impact.