How to Verify a B Corp Claim
Check the official company directory, legal entity and certification scope; distinguish business certification from product evidence and historical scores.
B Corp certification concerns a business, not a blanket approval of every item it sells. The useful first step is checking the official B Lab directory and matching the legal entity to the brand you are researching. A logo, an old announcement or language about B Corp values is not enough.
Standards evolve. Read current B Lab information and any transition guidance before applying historical assessment thresholds to a present-day certification claim. Do not treat an old score as a universal product ranking.
Find the exact business
Search the B Lab directory using the company name and any trading name shown on the product. Compare the listing with the brand's own legal and ownership information. Similar names can refer to different entities.
If a search does not find the business, check spelling and corporate names before drawing a conclusion. Ask the company for its official listing rather than labelling it deceptive solely because one search returned nothing.
Read scope and ownership separately
A subsidiary's certification does not automatically apply to its parent or sister businesses. Record which entity appears in the official listing, and check whether the product is sold by that entity.
Ownership can matter to your preferences, but ownership and certification scope are different questions. Do not infer that a parent's entire portfolio has been assessed from one subsidiary's mark, or assume a certified subsidiary proves the parent's practices.
Use current standards
B Lab's requirements and transition arrangements can change. Consult its current standards information rather than relying on a fixed points threshold or recertification period quoted in an old guide.
Where a directory displays historical assessment data, check its date and meaning. Comparisons between businesses assessed at different times or under different requirements need that context; a higher historical number is not proof of a better product today.
Separate the business from the product
A company-level listing does not establish that a particular cleaner is effective, a food is organic or a cosmetic is suitable for sensitive skin. Those questions need their own product-level evidence and instructions.
Look for the exact scheme behind additional labels. Match the named product, certificate or licence and current scope. Do not use B Corp as an umbrella that automatically validates every environmental or animal-welfare claim on the package.
Evaluate price without assuming a guarantee
A premium price may reflect many costs; it does not prove fair wages, superior durability or lower impact. Compare specifications, warranty, repair access and the current retailer terms for the item itself.
Cost-per-use examples depend on a stated number of uses and replacement assumptions. Do not assume a certified business's T-shirt lasts a particular number of washes or that a certification guarantees freedom from every supply-chain risk.
Keep a record of the check
Save the official listing URL, entity name and date you checked it. Keep a separate note for product-specific evidence. This makes a later change or correction easier to identify without mixing up business and product claims.
If a brand uses pending, inspired by or working toward language, ask what stage it has actually reached. For uncertainty, consult B Lab or request clarification from the company. Avoid claiming the directory is continuously synchronised with RevWix's catalogue.
Verify the company, not just the logo
| Priority | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Exact business name in B Lab’s directory | The certified entity may differ from a parent or subsidiary. |
| Status | Current profile and certification information | An old announcement is not a current status check. |
| Product | Separate ingredient, material and performance evidence | Company certification is not a product safety approval. |