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Nov 26, 2023

B Corp brands: everything you need to know, and 11 to shop now

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Shop from these 11 ethical companies

Sustainability is an ever more important issue, and it's up to each of us to reduce our own carbon footprint. We're all trying to cut our reliance on single-use plastics, reuse more, and cut down on food waste, but it's impossible to stop consumption entirely. As such, it pays to know the brands that care – and looking for those with B Corp certification makes that easier.

"It's not always easy for customers to identify the companies making a meaningful commitment to people and the planet," says Annie Olivier, Head of Growth at B Lab UK. "In a world where environmental consequences and human rights abuses are widespread, it's essential that businesses work to address these challenges."

Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by non-profit B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. There are currently 6,877 B Corps globally, 1,300 of which are based in the UK.

The process to win certification is gruelling. Between 2020 and 2022, only 60% of the companies who applied globally were accepted. Many of those took between three months to three years, sometimes needing to change internal practices or implement new measures in order to reach the minimum required standards.

"Our most challenging problems cannot be solved by governments and nonprofits alone," says "Annie. "By harnessing the power of business, B Corps commit to positively impact all stakeholders, including workers, communities, customers, and our planet.

It seems to be working, too. Recent studies show B Corps experience higher revenue growth, greater levels of employee retention and higher levels of innovation.

In order to become a B Corp, all companies must complete and submit the free B Impact Assessment (BIA) and earn a score of over 80 points. This involves answering 200 questions covering 12 months of operations across five impact areas (Governance, Environment, Customers, Community and Workforce).

B Lab is now in the process of developing a new set of standards to ensure B Corps continue to mirror the change that's needed to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. Once finalised, this will move B Corp Certification away from a flexible scoring system to specific requirements across core areas. The majority of these topics are already covered in the existing standards and methodology, so this evolution marks a shift towards making them mandatory across all B Corp Certified businesses.

Here's our bumper list of B Corp homes brands to know and shop, broken down into categories, so you can run a more sustainable lifestyle at home.

Traditional chemical cleaners contain chemicals that can be harmful if ingested or cause irritating reactions. Some studies have suggested a link between use and increased air pollution indoors. They can also have negative effects on wildlife when washed into our waterways, and put additional strain on treatment plants that are working to keep our water clean. Here are some more ethical alternatives to pick up instead.

According to the brand's website, 1,000 kitchen sponges are binned every minute and the majority are made from virgin plastic. The team behind Seep recognised that it was becoming easier to find eco-friendly products to actually clean your home, but that didn't necessarily translate into the tools used to do so. As such, they've worked to create a range of plastic-free scrubbers and utensils that are all compostable or fully biodegradable.

SHOP SEEP

Bower is one such company creating household cleaners that won't negatively impact the planet. Its range is extensive, covering everything you'd need to get your kitchen, bathroom and living spaces sparkling, all made from natural materials. There's a selection of personal care products, too. Once you've invested in a reusable cleaning bottle, simply replenish your supply with the refill packages, reducing the amount of plastic waste generated from your weekly routine.

SHOP BOWER COLLECTIVE

A new mattress typically represents a big investment, but it doesn't have to cost the earth as well. Whether you're after a new bed, some plush pillows or a lightweight duvet to prevent tossing and turning, there are sustainable options to deck out your room in full finery.

Simba has taken sustainability seriously, earning the UK's first B Corp certification for a bedding brand. It's also opened a refurbished outlet, where you can pick up one of its award-winning mattresses and bedding (which often score big with our fellow Hearst title Good Housekeeping) at a bargain price. The brand often runs generous sales, making its innovative offerings more accessible. Right now you can save up to 55% across the site, with big discounts on hero products such as the Hybrid mattress.

SHOP SIMBA SLEEP

There's lots to like about the offerings at The Fine Bedding Company. Notably, the brand has recently launched its Return to Nature collection, which features a pillow and duvet made from 100% GRS recycled polyester that's designed to biodegrade under the right environmental conditions, such as those found on landfill sites and in wastewater systems. When exposed to these surroundings, they will break down over time into natural components such as water, CO2 and methane, making a no-waste bedding solution that – importantly – won't start degrading during use!

SHOP THE FINE BEDDING CO

The EBC also has some impressive credentials to its name, being the world's only bedding brand to be both B Corp and Vegan Society approved. Its most popular products are its premium range of organic duvets, sheets and pillows made from eucalyptus silk. This fast-growing plant makes a sustainable alternative to cotton and traditional silk, while harnessing the same smooth, slippery properties we all know and love in the 'real' deal.

SHOP THE ETHICAL BEDDING CO

Good news: there's ways to tackle the weekly shop in a way that both saves you time (check out our list of sustainable subscription boxes to keep essentials replenished without needing to think) while reducing impact on the planet. These brands are working to keep your larder and bathroom stocked in a way you can feel good about.

You might have spotted the funky patterned packaging from this cheeky brand while out and about, but what you might not have known is that its paper products are made from 100% renewable and biodegradable bamboo, shipped to you via carbon-neutral delivery. The brand also donates 50% of its profits towards global sanitation efforts. So far, that equates to over £6 million. Impressive stuff.

SHOP WHO GIVES A CRAP

Say goodbye to throwing out endless plastic milk bottles. The Modern Milkman has a better idea, offering up to three-times weekly deliveries of household bottled essentials, along with pantry supplies, all in returnable, recyclable, or compostable packaging. Glass bottles are collected, washed and reused, and can be reused by the dairy up to 25 times, making single-usage a thing of the past. Make your order before 8pm for delivery the next day!

SHOP THE MODERN MILKMAN

It's not just bedding brands doing the work to become more sustainable. From your kitchen cupboards through to the candle you light on a cosy evening in, here are the companies that are giving back to the environment and supporting ethical employment practices.

Well-priced kitchenware company ProCook won't put a dent in your wallet, and it's also made huge strides to achieve the rigorous B-Corp standard, finally earning the certification in 2021 after an initial denial. Last year it earned a spot on the UK's Best Places to Work list, and among other initiatives, it's partnered with The Woodland Trust to mitigate carbon emissions, as well as Life's a Beach charity to support the eradication of single use plastics from British waterways. All that, and you can kit out your entire kitchen at a great price, too!

SHOP PROCOOK

We all know and love Emma Bridgewater's charming designs that celebrate all that's quintessentially British, from the King's Coronation right through to our country's seasonal vegetables. They make lovely giftable items for deserving friends and family, everything is very collectable and looks lovely when mixed-and-matched, so you can start building up a pretty collection.

SHOP EMMA BRIDGEWATER

Dutch homeware company Brabantia has big plans to achieve an entirely circular design process by 2035, and its B Corp certification is a good step along the way. Its offerings are built to last and cleverly designed. We've several of the brand's pieces at home, each which has firmly earned their spot – notably the brand's popular Bo Touch bin, which has two compartments for rubbish and recycling, making life a lot easier in our busy household.

SHOP BRABANTIA

The pantry's stocked, the sheets are clean and the weekly scrub's been done, so it's time to relax – and Neom is here to provide the ambience. We're big fans of Neom's beautiful fragrances; the brand's luxe-looking ceramic diffuser is a decorative piece in its own right, even when it's not filling the air with one of the – very relaxing – oil blends. Recommended.

SHOP NEOM ORGANICS

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