Wherever we are, we’re in this together

On behalf of the entire B Lab and Sistema B global network, we want to acknowledge our concern for your health and safety, and for all your stakeholders and loved ones.

At the heart of this global movement is our community; people who are parents, friends, partners, children, siblings, and colleagues. People who care about workers and communities, and who put public health and safety ahead of profits. People who set the standard for what responsible business looks like.

As COVID-19 continues to challenge our economy, infrastructure, and everyday routines, we’re reminded that our work towards an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all has never been more important.

We understand that, for many of you, the priority is to keep your business afloat and ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees. We hope that the B Corp community offers a safe space and a source of advice and inspiration for you.

Below, we have featured stories of B Corps making impactful decisions and persevering in the face of uncertainty (as we learn of new stories we will be updating this page). The positive stories featured might seem worlds away from the challenges you face, but they shine some light in this darkness and remind us that we are interdependent, interwoven, and we’re in this together.

Pivoting to PPE

Macphie’s food service orders quickly came to a halt as the crisis hit so it quickly decided to swap sauces for hand sanitiser to support key workers with essential supplies. Macphie contributed over 250,000 bottles of hand sanitiser to the supply chain throughout the lockdown.

When Burton learned that snow goggles could provide necessary eye protection, they donated 1,000 goggles to hospitals. Burton then paused production of snowboards and pivoted to making face shields to distribute to hospitals. Burton donated half a million masks in total.

Donations to the frontline

Allbirds donated 2,000 pairs of shoes to NHS heroes, who were working long hours on the frontline to keep us safe and healthy. In total, Allbirds donated $500,000 worth of shoes worldwide.

Lifesaver Power provided power banks to NHS staff and frontline workers so they could stay connected to loved ones. Lifesaver donated 400 pre-charged power banks, using 100% renewable energy.

Finisterre donated 500 metres of fabric and packaging material to support the Cornwall Scrubs Group to help produce scrubs and PPE for frontline NHS staff. Many members of the Finisterre team also volunteered time to help with the project.

The Body Shop donated 25,000 units of soap and 25,000 units of Hemp Hand protector to NHS nurses, doctors, support staff and volunteers at London’s ExCel centre. The Body Shop also donated a further 25,000 pieces to hospitals set up in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

Despite being a small business, Rebel Kitchen is determined to set an example and support those most in need. They’ve donated 14,000 milkshakes to hospitals and food banks in the UK and they didn’t stop there. The brand put out a call asking to be connected with more hospitals and food banks so it could donate more products.

Caring for the Community

Made Open launched a national timebanking platform to help UK communities respond to COVID-19. The platform helps people who are self-isolating access support and stay connected during the peak of crisis.

As a way of seeking to help the vulnerable, COOK offered free meals to those most vulnerable, calling on customers to notify them at the till of people in need. During lockdown, COOK set aside a Kindness Fund of 100,000 meals to give to those who needed them most.

Many grassroots community support groups won’t have a bank account or legal entity set up to manage funds. The Social Change Agency provided a platform to help community groups and collectives, who formed in response to COVID-19, easily receive donations and pay expenses via opencollective.com.

Beauty Kitchen pledged that for every one of their Organic Vegan Hand Sanitisers ordered, it would donate a product to In Kind Direct to support those most vulnerable.

Yoti has spent six years building a secure identity platform that makes it simpler and safer to prove who we are in our modern, digital world. In March, it pledged free digital identity services to any public health organisation, emergency service or community group.

There’s never been such a need for acts of kindness, particularly to support our NHS heroes. Brewgooder set up the campaign #OneOnUs as a way to pay it forward to NHS staff. 6,500 NHS champions received a 4-pack of beers and a message of support through the campaign.

Neighbourly set up a Community Fund, backed by their partner businesses, to support the Neighbourly causes that will be most affected. It launched a series of micro-grants of up to £400, to support good causes that are helping communities most in need.

Always looking to educate and create change, Flooglebinder offered free online lectures, talks, workshops, lesson plans and resources for schools, all of which focus on conservation, sustainability and mental health.

Made Open launched a national timebanking platform to help UK communities respond to COVID-19. The platform can help people who are self-isolating access support and stay connected.

Supporting Stakeholders

Danone is demonstrating commitment to protect all its stakeholders. This includes donating €250m to the 15,000 small businesses in its global ecosystem and giving specific bonuses to on site employees, working throughout lockdown.

The Big Issue had to stop selling magazines on the streets, which had a devastating impact on the 2,000 vulnerable sellers who rely on this to make a living. To help those in need, it set up a new appeal fund which called on people working from home to give the cost of their commute.

Keeping social distance is even harder if you live in a small house with your extended family and Tony’s Chocolonely wanted to protect their suppliers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. Tony’s put up posters with health precautions and is guaranteeing continuous long-term support for the people it works with.