BLD Southeast: Takeaways from Ecolytics' New Standards Workshop

Last week, Hazel Horvath—B Local Mid-Atlantic board member and Founder & CEO of Ecolytics—presented at BLD Southeast. Her workshop, “Data & New Standards: Systematizing Sustainability,” addressed the transition to the updated B Lab Standards and provided practical guidance for companies preparing for certification or recertification.

Key Recommendations for Companies

During the session, Hazel emphasized three immediate steps companies can take to begin aligning with the new standards:

1. Determine applicability. Identify which standards apply based on company size and sector. Ecolytics’ Standards Navigator offers a streamlined way to do this.
   
   
2. Identify required metrics. Establish a framework for data measurement, as accurate and consistent data collection is foundational to the new requirements.
   
   
3. Conduct a capacity audit. Evaluate the time and resources available within the company to determine where gaps exist and what additional support may be needed.

Ecolytics has developed a suite of tools—including the Standards Navigator and Gap Analysis—to support companies in this process. These resources are designed to make the standards more actionable, and to ensure alignment, Ecolytics has entered into a licensing agreement with B Lab.

Workshop Structure and Insights

The workshop was organized in three parts:

• Context and readiness. Attendees were invited to reflect on their current stage in preparing for the standards, fostering shared understanding and dialogue.
  
  
• Practical systems and tools. Hazel demonstrated how organizations can begin embedding processes and leveraging available tools to manage sustainability data more effectively.
  
  
• Strategic value. The session concluded with a discussion of the broader business case for B Corp certification, equipping participants with key points to use in board discussions and leadership conversations.

Hazel underscored that the new standards represent not only regulatory compliance, but also a framework for robust and credible sustainability practices. To illustrate this, she contrasted the previous standards—comparable to an à la carte menu allowing selective engagement—with the new standards, which function more like a prix fixe menu that ensures every company pursues a comprehensive, balanced approach to sustainability.

If you’re looking for assistance with your company’s management of the B Corp Certification, Ecolytics’ platform can streamline the process: https://www.ecolytics.io/demo

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