Six brilliant B Corps, as recommended by the Clearly team
Here in Bath, we’re incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many fellow B Corps. A short stroll down Milsom Street will lead you to the likes of Aesop and The Body Shop, and you’ve only got to turn the corner to find yourself standing outside Finisterre. Venture a bit further, and you’ll reach the newly opened Pieminister – what a treat! – or pop into Waitrose or Harvest and be spoilt for choice with all sorts of planet-friendly products on offer.
With more than 1,200 organisations now certified as B Corps (and a further 127 pending certification) it’s evident that there’s been a tidal wave of companies keen to jump on the bandwagon. Of course, their eagerness shouldn’t be perceived as a bad thing, so long as they follow through on their intentions and enact real, genuine change.
In honour of B Corp Month, we asked the Clearly team to tell us more about some of their favourite B Corps – and here’s what they had to say!
Kirsty: Bird & Blend Tea Co.
A tea mixology company like no other, Bird & Blend creates unique flavours by mixing pure blends of tea with an exciting range of other ingredients.* It offers blending workshops and tasting experiences, as well as a monthly tea-tasting subscription box. However you like your tea, Bird & Blend has you covered.
All of its packaging is recyclable, compostable, and plastic free – and the company will plant a tree for every takeaway cup used in a store. Oh, and if being a B Corp wasn’t great enough, it’s also been carbon neutral since 2021!
*I’d recommend Strawberry Lemonade – it’s the perfect refreshment to cold-brew in the summer.
Rachael: Aesop
A luxury beauty brand with a commitment to environmental change is a breath of fresh air. Its formulations are vegan, it holds Leaping Bunny certification in recognition of its belief in supporting animals, and Aesop have never tested its products on animals. It’s a company that does a lot of good whilst having ambitious goals of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
James: Patagonia
Patagonia is seen by many as the poster child of B Corp status. Indeed, the outdoor clothing specialist was blazing the sustainability trail long before the B Corp movement was founded in 2006, with Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard building the brand in the 1970s as one that allowed its employees to blend their love of outdoor pursuits (rock-climbing and surfing, in Chouinard’s case) with their work.
From an on-site facility for childcare – you could argue that Chouinard is a modern day John Cadbury – and the early use of organic cotton, to suing the President of the United States (yes, you read that correctly) and Chouniard giving away all the company’s profits to help fight climate change, there are few brands that set such high standards for corporate leadership.
And, having seen the mountain featured in Patagonia’s logo (Mt Fitz Roy, in South America’s Patagonia region) up close, with clouds swirling off its sheer peak, the brand really does hold a special place in my heart.
George: PROPER
I could list off its credentials – the only fairtrade sweet popcorn manufacturer, the first snack company to become a B Corp, its donations of snacks to local communities and those in need, etc – but ultimately, it comes down to tasty snacks that don’t harm the planet. What’s not to love?
Liz: The Body Shop
The trailblazing late, great Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick said ‘Business shapes the world. It is capable of changing society in any way you can imagine’.
In her early days, she was written off as a bit of a hippy with outlandish views, but those words were indeed prescient because The Body Shop became the company everybody wanted to copy. It championed sustainability, recycling, banning testing on animals and fairtrade way, way before it was fashionable and genuinely changed not only corporate but societal attitudes in the process.
Emma: Canopy & Stars
Not only is Canopy & Stars the highest-scoring B Corp in the travel industry, but its website is a treasure trove of truly unique places to stay – think treehouses tucked into the treetops, and quiet cabins nestled between rolling hills.
If that’s not enough to pique your interest, Canopy & Stars aims to be net zero by 2030, and actively avoids working in locations subject to overtourism.
Interested in finding out more about the B Corp movement? Then these might be of interest to you:
- Is B Corp’s reputation under threat?
- Thinking about becoming a B Corp? Please don’t…
- 3 ways to build your brand this B Corp Month
