B Lab Publishes Impact Report Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the B Corp Community

B Lab, the US non-profit organization that operates the international certification system "B Corporation™" (hereafter B Corp™), published an impact report on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to mark the 20th anniversary of the B Corp community. What is the B Corp Movement? In 2006, the B Corp movement was born from the power of community. It was founded by 81 pioneering companies that chose an approach different from conventional evaluation standards, followed subsequently by thousands more. As this global community celebrates its 20th anniversary, it reflects on its impact over the past two decades. Today, the movement spans 105 countries and 160 industries, with over 10,700 B Corps established. The total number of workers at B Corps exceeds 1 million. When the movement began in 2006, the idea that companies could exist for the benefit of stakeholders, rather than just shareholders, was considered radical. Twenty years later, that assertion has been validated on a massive scale and is now reflected in legislation. The legal framework for companies with a purpose beyond shareholder primacy—namely, Benefit Corporation laws—has been introduced in 51 countries and regions worldwide. The '20th Anniversary Impact Report' Issued by B Lab Research based on the newly published '20th Anniversary Impact Report' quantifies what two decades of practice have shown. For example, if all companies implemented environmental and climate measures at the same pace as current B Corps, global temperature rise could be limited by 0.5°C by 2100, marking a vital contribution toward the Paris Agreement. Another study shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, over 95% of B Corps continued operations, compared to 88% of similar non-B Corp companies. This data confirms that stakeholder governance is not only an ethical choice but a strategic one. Over the past 20 years, the B Corp community has demonstrated that it is possible to tackle society's most pressing challenges while driving sustainable growth and long-term viability. B Corps are creating fairer workplaces and contributing to environmental regeneration. By embedding "purpose" at the core of their business, B Corps have built resilience amid economic headwinds, outperforming their peers in sales and employee growth. These are the results of embracing a broader, more meaningful definition of corporate success, moving beyond the simplistic mantra of profit maximization. The strength of this community lies in its diversity. It now extends across industries, company sizes, and geographies. Various innovations across business models—such as welcoming stakeholders representing the rights of nature to corporate boards or re-evaluating share structures—are setting new precedents, elevating B Corps to a leadership position that redefines responsible, future-oriented business. From Concept to Institutionalization (2006-2011): The principles of the declaration were systematized by the "B Impact Assessment." Early adopters embodied them through practice, and Maryland legislated them via the Benefit Corporation Act in 2010. From One Country to the World (2011-2016): From a small start in the US, the movement expanded to Latin America, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Europe, reaching 37 countries. Natura in Brazil became the first publicly traded company to obtain B Corp certification, proving the model works across different cultures, legal systems, and economies. From Theory to Practice (2016-2021): By the late 2010s, B Corps were active in 70 countries, with new additions including Taiwan and South Korea. In Japan, two B Corps were established in the spring of 2016.