B Corp Logo and Messaging Rules: What You Can Say in 2026

B Lab updated its brand guidelines in January 2026, and the grace period for existing B Corps to update everything ended August 31, 2026. All use of the B Corp logo and branding must now follow the current guidelines.

The short version:

Use the logo in black or white only, with a link or text pointing to bcorp.com.
Make it clear the company is certified, not the product.
Use B Lab's approved claims when you talk about certification.
Retire vague green language and "first" or "best" claims.

This matters beyond style. B Lab says auditors can investigate complaints about brand misuse and may flag it as a nonconformity that has to be fixed within a set time.

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. B Lab's Brand Book is the official source, and it changes. If you market to consumers in the EU, B Lab strongly recommends getting legal advice.

Why the rules changed

B Lab says its 2026 guidelines and timelines were designed to help B Corps comply with the EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) directive. That law requires sustainability labels to make their criteria clear and any related claims substantiated.

That's why the bcorp.com link is now required with every use of the logo. It sends people to a page where they can check what certification means and look up your company.

If you're working on the responsible marketing policy the new standards require, these brand rules should be part of it.

Logo rules

Use the full logo. It has five parts that always appear together: the "Circle B," the holding line, "Certified," "Corporation," and the registered symbol. The line sits above "Corporation," not below it.

Black or white only. No brand colors. The one exception is a single-color printing process, which some packaging uses.

Always point to bcorp.com. Hyperlink the logo online. In print and on pack, add "Learn more at bcorp.com."

Use ® or ™ correctly. Use ® in jurisdictions where B Lab has registered the logo, which include the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU. Use ™ elsewhere.

Don't use the "Circle B" on its own. That mark is reserved for B Lab. B Corps also can't use the B Lab logo.

Mind the size. On small packaging and print, the logo shouldn't be narrower than 6mm.

Where the logo can and can't go

Packaging. Place the logo near your company name or logo so it's clear the company is certified. B Lab recommends adding a line such as "[Company] is a Certified B Corp™."

Different-name brands. Only brands listed as in scope when you certified can use the logo. A new brand needs a brand review first.

Co-branded materials. Not allowed if the partner isn't certified, even for a joint campaign.

Merchandise. Items with the B Corp logo must be made by a certified company. If that isn't possible, B Lab says not to produce them.

Signage. Only at sites within the scope of your certification, branded solely for your company, and produced with lower-impact materials.

Print you've already made. B Lab doesn't grant extensions, but it lets B Corps transitioning to the new standards use existing print materials until they run out. Digital channels have no such allowance and should already be updated.

What you can say

B Lab's Messaging Library is the source for approved language. It states that only the claims listed there are approved for use alongside the B Corp logo and B Lab's trademarks.

The library offers taglines, short copy, long copy, and "reasons to believe" backed by research or specific standards. It's split by who can use each message:

Suitable for all B Corps. Core messaging, such as describing B Corps as companies verified as meeting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Certified on version 1.6. Messaging tied to the older five impact areas.
Certified on version 2.1 or later. Messaging for the seven new impact topics, such as Climate Action and Fair Work. Only companies certified on the new standards, in 2026 or later, can use these.

Check which version you're certified on before you borrow copy.

What to stop saying

Retire this	Use this instead	Why
BCorp, B-Corp, B Corp.	B Corp™ or Certified B Corporation™	The protected names
"We've been awarded B Corp status"	"We're now a Certified B Corporation"	It's a certification, not an award
"Certified B Corp products"	"Products from a Certified B Corp"	It certifies companies, not products
"Sustainable," "green," "planet-friendly" (tied to certification)	Approved Messaging Library language	Could be seen as greenwashing
"The highest standard of social and environmental impact"	"Verified as meeting B Lab Standards…"	B Lab has retired this comparative line
"The first/only B Corp in our industry"	Collective framing, such as being among B Corps in your industry	B Lab doesn't verify these claims

Also add the ™ symbol on the first use of B Corp names in body copy or headlines.

Not certified yet?

Working toward certification? You can't use the B Corp logo or trademarks to signal your progress. B Lab says doing so could break local laws and undermine trust. You can describe what you're actually doing, in plain language, without the mark.

Pending B Corp? B Lab is closing the Pending B program. It stopped issuing new Pending statuses on September 26, 2026. Existing Pending B Corps can generally use their logo until their status expires, but companies affected by the EU's ECGT directive had to stop on September 26, 2026. Where it's still allowed, the Pending logo has been limited to digital use, not packaging.

If certification lapses

You have to stop using B Lab's IP. Unless B Lab agrees otherwise, the B Corp Agreement allows 30 days to remove it from digital and print media, and 90 days for stationery, physical promotional materials, and newly printed packaging. Existing packaging stock can be sold through.

A 30-minute brand check

Search your website for "B Corp," "BCorp," and "B-Corp." Fix styling and add ™ on first use.
Check every logo is black or white, uses the current version, and links to bcorp.com.
Review your email signatures, pitch decks, and social bios.
Look for "sustainable," "green," "highest standard," "first," and "only" near any mention of certification.
Check packaging, merchandise, and signage against the placement rules above.
Note anything you can't fix quickly, and set a date to fix it.

Want a second set of eyes on what you're saying? Zaha's Impact Story Sprint includes a claims check against B Lab's current guidance, so your messaging is clear and you can stand behind it. Book a free 30-minute call.

B Corp Logo and Messaging Rules: What You Can and Can't Say in 2026