LETTER: UK B Corps: “This is not greenwashing. This is progress.”
December 2022
Dear Editor,
Your article, ‘Why B Corp gold standard may just encourage green-washing’, does not reflect our experiences of applying for and becoming B Corp Certified.
As members of the B Corp Community, we do not believe we are perfect businesses. What’s important to us is continuous improvement, transparency, and true accountability. We recertify every three years under higher standards; we publish our impact scores; and each of us has made a legal change to consider the company’s impact on all stakeholders.
B Corp is more than a certification, it means being part of a community working towards a shared goal. In fact, being a B Corp has meant challenging ourselves to transform our operations, collaborate in ways we never expected, and demonstrably change the way we do business to better serve people and the planet. It means encouraging every single team member to think differently about why our businesses exist.
The accelerated growth of the movement, reaching 1,000 in the UK this month, is testament to the value of being part of this inspiring community of peers.
There is no question the world needs business to take action. We believe B Corp provides us with a way to measure progress, accept accountability under scrutiny, and work together to build an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.
This is not greenwashing. This is progress.
Yours, the undersigned,
Rosie Brown, Co-CEO, COOK
Ben Dando, CEO, Karma Drinks
Mark Cuddigan, CEO, Ella’s Kitchen
Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director, Exclusive Collection
Paul Hargreaves, CEO, Cotswold Fayre Ltd
Xavier Rees, CEO, Havas
Hermione Taylor, Founder & CEO, Do Nation
Pip Murray, CEO & Founder, Pip & Nut
Andy Hawkins, C-3PO, Business On Purpose
Damian Soong, CEO, Form
Chris Brown, Founder, igloo Regeneration
Jenny Kitchen, CEO, Yoyo design
Vineeta Greenwood, Wholegrain Digital
Sam Galsworthy, Co-Founder, Sipsmith Distillery
Simon Bocca, CEO & Founder, PayCaptain
Christopher Davis, International Campaigns Director, The Body Shop
Sally Pritchett, CEO, Something Big Ltd
Ben Thorne, Founder & CEO, Enriched Horizons Ltd
Andy Middleton, CEO, The TYF Group
Graham Gillen, CEO, eccountinc
Hannah Shipton, MD, Abel & Cole Ltd
Paul Lewis, CEO, Seismic
Simona Deifta, Founder, nojo
Will Richardson, CEO Green Element Group
Louise Gatenby, Founder, The Good Board
Sophie Brooks, Founder, Fit for Purpose
Kresse Wesling CBE, Co-Founder, Elvis & Kresse
Emma Wellstead, Founding Partner, Warwick Events
Aaron Penwill, Founder, Lean Practice Ltd
James Kraft, Founder & CEO, The Standing CT Company
Alastair Mitchell-Baker, Director, Tricordant
Martin Bunch, Managing Partner, Bates Wells
Matt Hocking, Founder & CSO Leap
John Brown, Founder & CEO, Don’t Cry Wolf
Donna Okell, Founder and B Leader, UK for Good
Thomas Power, CEO, Pura Aventura
Nick Canney, CEO innocent drinks
Tabatha Hurst, Head of Sustainability, Ellers Farm Distillery
Louisa Ziane, Co-founder & COO, Toast Ale
Andy Snapes, Senior Partner, Ward Williams Associates
Fran van Dijk, CEO One Stone Advisors
Paul Coverdale, Founder, Purpose Amplified
Pierre Wassenaar, Chair. Stride Treglown Ltd
Ian Balmforth, MD, Equinox Kombucha
Doug Johnson, Founder & Director, Mesh Energy
Russell Cosway, Founder & Director, Gydeline Ltd
John Rosling, CEO, Contexis Ltd
Hugo Llewelyn, CEO, Newcore Capital Management
Nick Redding, MD, Reddico Digital
Nicholas James, Founder and Director, KAST Architects
Zsuzsanna Recsey, CEO, Standing on Giants
Thomas Bourne, Founder & CEO, Greenheart
Phil Higham, Co-founder & Director, RealWorth Consulting
Jamie Crummie, Co-founder, Too Good To Go
Abena Fairweather, CEO, Legacy Events
Adam Huttly CEO and Founder, Red-Inc
Sian Bishop, Lead Counsel - Europe, The Myers-Briggs Company Limited
Holly Gray, M&W Design Co., (USA) Executive Coordinator and B Keeper
Kyle C Grant, CEO & Founder, Oxwash Ltd
Claire Shread, Co-founder, Umberto Giannini
Adam Garfunkel, Managing Director, Junxion Strategy
Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director, Tops Day Nurseries and Aspire Training Team
Solitaire Townsend, Cofounder & Chief Solutionist, Futerra
Alex Holliman, Managing Director, Climbing Trees
Emilie Vanpoperinghe, Co-founder & CEO, Oddbox
Nick Marks, Founder & CEO, PIE Factory
Nick Dean, Chair, ADLIB
Brad Frankel, Co-Founder, Flooglebinder
John Quinton-Barber, Founder, Social
Graham Purvis, MD, Robson Laidler
Andy Aitken - Co-Founder, Honest Mobile
Raoul Perfitt - Co Founder & Chairman, Herb UK Ltd.
Kirsty Leighton, Founder & Group CEO, Milk & Honey PR
Dominic Thomas, Co-founder and COO, Karfu Ltd
Amanda Powell-Smith, CEO, Forster Communications
Niku Banaie, CEO/Founder, The Upside
Matt Utber, CEO & Founder, The Plant
John Long, Director, Igloo Regeneration
Pete Swift, Co-Founder and MD, Planit-IE
Anuradha Chugh, CEO, Pukka Herbs
Greg Pilley, Managing Director, Stroud Brewery
David George, CEO, Bikmo
Oliver Bolton, CEO, Earthly
Pip Durell, CEO, WNU
Tom Tapper, CEO & Co-founder, Nice and Serious
Rob Hubbard, CEO and Founder, LAS
Myles Hopper, CCO and Founder, Mindful Chef
Gavin Shinfield, Co-founder and CSO, Kyan
Basil Demeroutis, Managing Partner, FORE Partnership
Rachel Parsons, Founder, New Forest Escapes
James Bidwell, CEO, Springwise
Phil Walsh, Founder, Walshs Learning to Achieve
Matthijs Visch, General Manager, EMEA, Patagonia
Perry Timms, Founder and CEO, People and Transformational HR Ltd.
Amy Clarke, Co-Founder, Tribe Impact Capital LLP
Amanda Fone CEO & Founder f1 recruitment ltd
Simon Lucas, Managing Director, Society
William Bicknell, Founder, Felloh
Will Schreiber, Partner, 3Keel
Catherine Ramsden, Founding Director and Deputy Chair, Useful Simple Trust
James Mayer, President, Danone UK & Ireland
Steve Butterworth, CEO, Neighbourly
Professor Sneh Khemka, CEO, Simplyhealth
Laura Rudoe, Founder & CEO, Evolve Organic Beauty
David Tuck, Group CEO - Europe, Kin + Carta
Richard Boon, Managing Director, Webmart
Alastair Cole, Co-Founder, The Uplift Partnership
Julian Lipscombe, Director, Bennetts Associates
Tim Smith, CEO, Rude Health
Jacqueline Milton, Director, Pulse Brands
Rosamund Heathcote, Founder & CEO, Borough Broth
Ruth Harding, Managing Director, Divine Chocolate
Barney Mauleverer, Co-Founder, FUEL10K
Rupa Wincell, Founder, Kri Skincare
Rohan Silva, CEO & Founder, Second Home
Joanna Allen, CEO, graze
George May, MD, bio-bean
Emma Heathcote-James, Founder and CEO, Little Soap Company
Sarah Jackson, Director, Higgidy
George Latham, Managing Partner, WHEB Asset Management
Tim Rees, Managing Director, The Vita Coco Company EMEA
Alex Willcocks, CEO, Engage Interactive
Will Sheane CEO & Tom Kay Founder, Finisterre
Jos Skeates Founder EC One
Xenia zu Hohenlohe Co-Founder & CSO, Considerate Group
Tamara Lohan, Founder & CEO Mr & Mrs Smith
Venetia Martin, Partnerships Director, Journeys With Purpose
Nick Pulley, Founder Selective Asia
Simon Rogerson, CEO and co-founder, Octopus Group
Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director EMEA, Intrepid Travel
Cat Jones, Founder & CEO, Byway
Justine Clement, Founder The Happy Prize Company
Jeff Hayes, President & CEO, The Myers-Briggs Company
Audrey Migot-Adholla, Founder, Yala Jewellery
Celia Gaze, CEO, The Wellbeing Farm
Mark McCormack, Director, Talking Tables
David Schluter, Founder, Fluid IT
Jonny White, CEO, Ticket Tailor
Andy Dewis, Founder & CEO, Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships
Alex Narracott, Founder & CEO, Much Better Adventures
Peter Flavel, CEO, Coutts & Co.
Rebecca Honeywell-Ward, CEO, Honeywell Bakes
Nick Shute, Co-Founder, Dodds & Shute
Liam McEntegart, Director, REAL Fundraising
Lauren Murrell, Co-Founder & CEO, By Sarah London
Louisa Fitzpatrick, Co-owner, Old Chapel Cellars
Nathalie Agnew, Managing Director, Muckle Media
Faye Treffry, Director & Head of Growth, Green&Blue
Bryan Raven, Managing Director, White Light
Fleurie Amorette Forbes-Martin, Story & Growth Director, Stronger Stories
Mark Lowe, Co-founder, Third City
Mark Shortland, Co-founder and Managing Director, Shoplight
Andrew Watson, Managing Director, OxfordSM
Josie Harfield, CEO and Co-founder, neat
Jon Cleave, Founder and CEO, Newyonder
Louis Beaumont, Managing Director, Hive Cleaning
Sarah Smart, Managing Director, The Collective
Rupert Dean, CEO, x+why
Adrian Bettridge, Managing Partner, Baringa Partners LLPr
Jon Berry, Founder and Director, Tyler Grange
Stuart Holmes, UK and Ireland Managing Director, illycafè
Jon Gibbins, Founder and Director, As It Should Be
Henrietta Norton, Founder, Wild Nutrition
Alison Howard, Director of Growth and Innovation, Social Change
Laura Oliphant, Founder, Stand Agency
Chris Broadbent, Director, Naturaw
Kingsley James, Executive Director, Emperor
Narda Shirley, Founder and Director, Gong Communications
Gunnlaugar Erlendsson, CEO, ENSO
Liz Etches, Owner, The Paper Party Bag Shop
Nikki Buckley, Head of Sustainability, Lick
Harry Young-Jamieson, Managing Director, St. Eval
Mark Hammond, Founder, Net Zero Group
B Corps, if you'd like to sign this letter, please email media@bcorporation.uk