Dr. Bronner’s Drops B Corp Certification Over Integrity Concerns

Dr. Bronner’s, a North American soap brand, has decided not to renew its certification with B Lab, citing concerns about the integrity of the B Corp program. The company, known for having the highest-ever B Corp score, has been critical of the program's certification of multinational corporations with inadequate supply chain oversight, leading to what it views as unethical business practices being hidden behind the B Corp label. Dr. Bronner’s has called for stricter requirements, including mandatory third-party eco-social certification for major supply chains, particularly in industries like food, personal care, and textiles.

Despite leaving the B Corp program, Dr. Bronner's will maintain its status as a legally registered benefit corporation in California, emphasizing social and environmental considerations alongside profit. The company will no longer use the B Corp logo in its branding and marketing materials, even though its certification fee is paid through September 2025. Dr. Bronner’s hopes its exit from the program will prompt necessary changes and encourage other companies to push for improvements within the B Corp standards.