B Corp V2 Recertification
What every B Corp certified company needs to know
This is a recap of our webinar with our Director of Sustainability Reporting, Andrew Rizkallah, and Culture Amp’s ESG Advisor, Aubrey Blanche. Watch the full recording here.
B Lab officially transitioned to its new Version 2 (V2) standards framework in March 2026 — and for the 9,500+ companies that carry the B Corp certification, the recertification landscape looks meaningfully different than it did three years ago.
From Points to Standards
What changed with V2
The original B Impact Assessment operated on a points-based model: score 80 out of 200 across multiple categories, and you’re certified. The new V2 framework replaces that model entirely with a standards-based approach, meaning there are specific, non-negotiable requirements across seven defined impact areas that must be met — not simply scored.
This isn’t just a structural change. It signals a broader shift toward rigor, transparency, and international alignment. V2 now integrates with globally accepted frameworks like GRI and the EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive, making B Corp certification increasingly relevant to companies operating across multiple regulatory environments.
Assessment methods
The 7 impact areas under B Lab V2
The TCFD framework didn’t stay in its own lane for long, quickly becoming the blueprint for the next generation of reporting standards.
1. Purpose & Stakeholder Governance (PSG)
Companies must embed purpose, accountability, and transparency into their core governance structures — defining a meaningful public purpose, integrating stakeholder considerations into decision-making, and communicating social and environmental performance responsibly.
2. Fair Work (FW)
B Corp requires that companies create high-quality jobs and cultivate workplaces where every worker is treated fairly and with dignity. This includes fair wage practices, clear employee expectations, active worker listening, and regular measurement of workplace culture.
3. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
Companies must identify and address inequities within their workplaces and value chains. Requirements focus on measuring differences between groups, gathering stakeholder feedback, and taking intentional action to build inclusive, equitable environments — regardless of what language you use to describe that work.
4. Human Rights (HR)
B Corp requires ongoing due diligence to prevent harm connected to operations, products, and services — including working with suppliers to mitigate risks across the value chain. Companies already subject to modern slavery legislation or similar regulatory requirements will find meaningful overlap here.
5. Climate Action (CA)
Climate action is now a standalone impact area, and it carries significant weight. Companies must measure Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions annually, set science-based targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and implement a credible climate transition plan demonstrating measurable progress toward net zero by 2050.
6. Environmental Stewardship & Circularity (ESC)
Companies must identify their actual and potential negative environmental impacts, develop formal strategies to address them, implement circularity principles, and actively reduce waste and resource use across operations and their supply chain.
7. Government Affairs & Collective Action (GACA)
B Corp requires companies to look beyond their own operations and contribute to broader progress. This includes responsible and transparent approaches to lobbying and tax practices, and collaborative engagement on systemic social and environmental challenges.
New mandates
Third-Party Verification: A significant process change
One of the most consequential changes under V2 is the introduction of mandatory independent third-party verification. Previously, companies worked directly with a B Lab analyst who reviewed documentation and guided the self-assessment. Under V2, B Lab steps out of that verification role entirely — and an independent assurance provider steps in.
For companies familiar with financial audits, the process will feel familiar. For those who’ve treated B Corp certification as an internally managed initiative, it’s a meaningful shift.
What this means in practice: expect longer certification timelines, greater documentation requirements, and increased scrutiny of ESG data and ongoing actions. The bar for what counts as evidence has risen significantly.
As Aubrey put it: “This new world is really going to force all of us to professionalize the operations of the certification process — which ultimately improves the quality of our operations, but it changes the way we’re planning.”
A Practical Case Study
Climate action for a 2028 recertification
The Climate Action impact area illustrates why early planning isn’t just recommended — it’s structurally required. Consider a company targeting 2028 recertification. Here’s what a realistic roadmap looks like:
These activities aren’t sequential options — they’re interdependent. You can’t set a credible SBTi target without a verified base year inventory. You can’t demonstrate progress without multi-year data. Start early.
Get ahead
Where to begin
Whether you’re preparing for first-time certification or navigating recertification under the new standard, the path forward starts with understanding where you stand.
Assess your certification track. Company size and sector determine which requirements apply — and the threshold shifts as you grow. A company approaching 250 employees or $75M in revenue should be planning for a new tier of requirements.
Map your gaps. Review each of the seven impact areas against your current practices. Identify which requirements are already met, which are in progress, and which represent genuine gaps — paying close attention to dependencies like the GHG inventory → SBTi target → third-party verification chain within Climate Action.
Mobilize your stakeholders. B Corp recertification under V2 is no longer a side project. It requires resources, executive buy-in, and cross-functional coordination across finance, legal, HR, IT, and sustainability teams.
Start now. The earlier you begin, the more manageable the process becomes.
BOARDROOM DELIVERY
How Greenplaces supports B Corp recertification
Greenplaces provides end-to-end support for B Corp certification and recertification, including:
Greenplaces is a certified B Corp — we don’t just help clients pursue this standard, we hold ourselves to it.
