Pending B Corp Marketing Guidelines

Why should I apply for the Pending B Corp status?
Companies who have less than 12 months of operations and are able to meet the legal pathway for B Corp certification are  eligible to apply for Pending B Corp status. Companies under 12 months of operations are not able to apply for full B Corp certification, so this status is issued  to companies for one year, as business operations and practices are created. Companies who receive this status can choose whether or not to apply for full B Corp certification, but if the business does not pursue certification, the company will cease to make any claims to Pending Certified B Corporation per the intellectual property provisions in the Agreement signed by the company.

What features do I receive for my Pending B Corp Status?

1 Year of Pending B Corporation Status

Pending B Corporations are granted rights to use the "Certified B Corp: Pending" intellectual property from B Lab for one year to help them communicate their commitment internally and  publicly on the company’s website.

Listing on bcorporation.net

B Lab will include your business within our Directory on a Pending B Corporation Listing page that serves as a public demonstration of your commitment.

At this time, these are the features available to Pending B Corps. The B Hive and other aspects not included here are available for full B Corp certified companies, which Pending B Corps can apply for at 12 months of operations.

Where can I add the Pending B Corp logo?

Use B Lab's intellectual property related to the name 'Pending Certified B

Corporation and the 'Pending Certified B Corporation Seal' exclusively on the company's website and internal communications.

Can I use the Pending B Corp logo on packaging? 
Since the status is available for one year, the logo should not be added to any packaging produced during the period of time the company has this status. 

I am a Pending B Corp and have now submitted an application for full B Corp Certification. Can I still use the Pending B logo?

If you are currently a Pending B Corp and have submitted an application for full B Corp Certification prior to your 1-year Pending B status expiration date, you may continue to use the Pending B logo on your website and internal communications until your application is closed or you achieve full B Corp Certification. Once either of these events occur, all Pending B Corporation logos must be removed.

In other words, Pending B companies must submit an application for full B Corp Certification before the one year expiration deadline in order to continue using the logo afterwards while this application is ongoing.

Please note that B Lab will still remove the company from the B Corporation directory once 12 months have passed from the initial Pending status.

I have an open application for full B Corp Certification. Does that mean I can use the Pending B logo?

The Pending B logo is reserved for companies who have successfully completed the Pending B review process. It is not for companies that are simply in the process of applying for full B Corp Certification.