The world we live in is changing. We’re all beginning to sit up and realise we can’t go on living the way we have been. We know the importance of doing our bit for the environment and we understand that sustainable living is the key to protecting our planet for future generations. With an emphasis on mindfulness and trying to limit stress, our priorities are shifting away from the desire to purely earn money; we want to live better, more meaningful lives. There are a set of corporations who are ahead of the curve with this changing mentality; enter the B Corps Companies. Never heard of them? Well, you’ve probably heard of Hip and Healthy favourites like Abel & Cole and Mindful Chef who all belong to this growing group. They present a new outlook on business; they aim not only to make a profit but to do good in the world. They have the most brilliant and inspirational set of beliefs, ‘The B Corp Declaration of Independence’ which is well worth a read:

That we must be the change we seek in the world.

That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.

That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.

To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.

You’re probably thinking why don’t all companies adopt this approach? We’re sure everyone would be happier if they did. The big question is, how does a company become B Corps certified? In truth, it’s actually very difficult. In order to become B Corps certified they have to go through a rigorous assessment and it’s not just about the product or products they produce. They look closely at the company’s impact on its workers, the environment and customers. This means absolutely everything is examined from their supply chain to any charitable giving and benefits their workers are offered. They are then scored accordingly and the results are made public. It’s a whole new way of thinking and we love the idea that these companies are paving the way for everyone to take responsibility for their community and environment.

So which companies are B-Corps certified? There’s a notable list of companies worldwide who are all worthy of a mention but below are a few of our favourite UK brands…

Mindful Chef has been members since September 2018 and score an impressive 80.5. They are our number one favourite recipe box supplying ethically and sustainably sourced food for people to cook up at home. They can cater for all dietary requirements from gluten-free to vegan and pretty much everything in-between. For every meal bought, they donate one school meal to a child living in poverty.

Abel & Cole have been members since August 2018 and score an outstanding 88.4.  Delivering organic groceries, their mission is to get everyone eating organically and ethically – something we wholeheartedly support. Their food is seasonal and grown as locally as possible, most of their packaging is reusable or recyclable and they plan their deliveries efficiently to minimise their carbon footprint. They do lots of work with the community from food donations to helping farmers gain their organic certification. Hats off to you Abel & Cole!

A member since May 2017 with a score of 80.8, Rebel Kitchen have long provided our favourite ‘mylks’ which are not only plant-based, organic and additive free but seriously delicious too. But did you also know they’re a 1% For the Planet member?  This means they donate 1% of their profits to a non-profit partner carefully vetted by 1% For the Planet. We’ll keep on drinking our chocolate mylk to that!

We make no secret of our love for chocolate and Doisy & Dam bars are one of our go-to afternoon pick me ups!  Another member of the B Corps since April 2017 and with a high 85.4 score, Doisy & Dam have sealed our love affair with chocolate by using the highest quality, ethically sourced ingredients using nothing artificial. All their chocolate is gluten and soya free and their dark chocolate is vegan. They even use superfoods in all their chocolate so there’s no danger of snacking on empty calories. With so many exciting flavours to choose from, we guarantee if you haven’t already tried them, you’ll love them just as much as we do. They pledge to reduce their carbon footprint (they already produce everything in the UK which limits transportation) and to make their packaging more sustainable. Once more, they even aim to own their own plantation in Colombia by 2020 so they can control the way their chocolate is produced as well as help the farmers by paying a fair price.

Healing our guts with their selection of bone broths, Ossa Organic has been a member since April 2017 with an 81.5 score. Believing in the restorative properties of food, they use only the highest quality of organic ingredients for their broths and they even have a vegan broth for non-meat eaters. All their broths are made in the traditional, slow way without any additives for maximum health benefits.  Plus all their pouches are BPA free. Hurrah!

We love all of these amazing brands. They each bring with them an awareness of the wider picture other than the product they produce. They’ve given us cause to celebrate them as well as buy from them. The B Corps list is growing more and more each year and we hope many more companies strive to join.

For the full list of B Corps certified companies visit: www.bcorporation.uk/directory

words by Francesca Londoño-Richards
@flamingo_nella_me
www.flamingo-nella-me.com

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