B Corp recertification on the new standards

B Lab began recertifying existing B Corps on V2 in January 2026. Companies whose recertification date fell in 2026 transitioned to the new standards with a 12-month extension. B Lab expects recertifications in 2027 and 2028 to be on the new standards and on the existing date, with no extension.

Companies selling to consumers in the EU had earlier deadlines tied to the ECGT Directive. If that applies to you, check B Lab's ECGT guidance directly.

Practices that earned points before may land differently now, and a strong total can no longer offset a gap. After your audit you get a report listing any nonconformities. Major ones must be fixed before you're certified; minor ones must be addressed by the next audit, or they're elevated to major.

How often you're audited depends on size and sector. Micro and small companies are audited at Year 0, Year 3 and Year 5; larger companies are likely to be audited annually.

Start with what made the last cycle hard. If it was knowing what the standard meant, a consultant is worth it. If it was finding documents and getting colleagues to respond, better process and tooling usually fix it for less.