There are two types of sustainability claims when it comes to shopping paint. The kind a brand writes on its own tin, and the kind that an independent party has verified. The latter takes months of work, and in-depth validation of the company’s environmental credentials. B Corp certification sits firmly in this second group, so it’s definitely the thing to look for - but it can be misunderstood.

What B Corp Actually Evaluates

Most people see B Corp as an environmental certification. And whilst that’s a big part of it, B Corp certification actually scores a company across five distinct areas; Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. It’s not a simple test that the marketing team can pass - it involves fundamental commitments to legal structure, supply chain, employee wellbeing and environmental responsibility. They're all assessed together, and serious evidence is required at every stage.

Why It's Unusual for a Paint Brand to Have B Corp Certification

Historically, paint could be considered quite an opaque industry. Ingredients and supply chains are proprietary and complex, and consumer terminology hasn’t always been super clear and transparent. Very few paint brands globally have gone through the B Corp process and secured certification.

COAT was the first paint brand in the UK to certify back in 2022, and re-certify again in 2025. We are also the only paint company to hold both B Corp and Climate Positive certifications, and the two sit deliberately together. Climate Positive is about the environmental commitment alone, and B Corp is a broader look at responsible business.

What Do You Need To Get B Corp Certification?

Any business looking to certify needs to prove how they act responsibly across the five core areas of Governance, Environment, Community, Workers and Customers. Each area is explored by B Lab in depth, with companies having to provide data and evidence to qualify in each area.

Certification isn't a one-off thing, either. All B Corp businesses need to recertify every three years, against a bar that keeps rising as B Lab standards evolve. A business can lose its certification if it doesn't keep moving, which means that a constant focus on improvement is key.

COAT’s B Corp Certification, And What’s Behind It

COAT has a B Corp score of 102.8 - the highest in the paint industry. Scores like that don’t come from one decision - they come from a truly ingrained sense of responsibility for doing better business, across the board.

"B Corp isn't something you can talk your way into. It's slow and thorough, and it forces you to look at parts of the business that have gone so far beyond the paint itself. That’s why it matters more than any sustainability claim out there, because it goes beyond the basics" says Rob Abrahams, Co-Founder and CEO of COAT.

For COAT, our commitments include producing every tin of paint to order rather than to go on store shelves - so nothing unwanted ever gets produced. We also re-thought the paint tester method altogether, and our Peel & Stick samples use around 95% less waste than traditional tester pots while giving a 100% accurate read on a colour like Good Intentions on your own wall, in your own light.

The Takeaway

B Corp certification means that a business has been independently assessed, and is not just claiming responsibility without true justification. B Corp is a leading indicator of a company’s true commitment to the environment and wider social responsibility. 

You can explore a company’s B Corp status even further at B Corp’s website. This will give you more detail behind the certification and the score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is B Corp certification?

B Corp certification is an independent assessment that scores a company across five core areas of environmental and societal responsibility: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. A minimum score of 80 is needed to certify. COAT Paints has the highest B Corp score of any paint company.

Does B Corp Mean The Same As Carbon Neutral?

No. B Corp looks at the whole business, from environmental impact to how they treat their employees and community. Carbon claims, like Carbon Neutral or Climate Positive, come from a separate assessment of carbon emissions only. Both types of certification are valid and important, but they are quite different in scope.

How is a B Corp score calculated?

B Corp scores are calculated based on the evidence gathered from the company in each of the five core areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. Companies are given points for their actions in each area, which culminates in a final total score out of 200. COAT has a score of 102.8, which is the highest B Corp score of any paint company.

What is COAT's B Corp score?

COAT has a B Corp score of 102.8, the highest in the paint industry, alongside being the world's first Climate Positive certified paint company. COAT was the first paint company to secure B Corp certification in 2022, and has since recertified in 2025.