Global Standards

While social enterprises have different legal structures, business models and operating contexts, social enterprises have one thing in common: they work in a way that is consistent with the five Global Standards (‘the standards').

The standards set out that a social enterprise:

1. Exists to solve a social or environmental problem

2. Prioritises purpose, people and planet over profit in operational decisions

3. Has a self-sustaining revenue model

4. Reinvests the majority of any surplus towards purpose

5. Chooses legal structures and financing that lock-in purpose long term.

Each standard has a scale with levels from one to five.

See more here: https://peopleandplanetfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Verification-Standards.pdf