B Corp Britain: These are the companies near you doing things differently

Wherever you are in the UK you won’t be far from a B Corp providing a wide – often surprising – range of products and services. They may be based locally but their reach and impact can be far-reaching. Here are just a few to start you exploring.  

Northern Ireland

Madlug, Lisburn

In 2015, Dave Linton founded Madlug after feeling heartbroken that most children in care have their belongings moved in a bin bag. With £480, he started what would become an award-winning bag brand, coming up with the ‘buy one, wear one, help one’ approach. For each bag purchased, a pack-away travel bag goes to a child in care.   

DELI LITES, Warrenpoint  

Back in 1994, the first DELI LITES store opened in Newry, County Down with the aim of making artisan sandwiches for convenience stores. Jackie Reid, the founder, had recently returned from New York and wanted to bring the quality and flavours she discovered in the downtown delis of New Jersey to Ireland. The company has since expanded and is now Ireland’s leading food-to-go brand and artisan bakery.    

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Clever Ghost, Holywood  

Knowledge + design = change. It’s the formula that Clever Ghost uses to influence positive change to elevate brands and businesses. The team spends time with clients to understand their market and audience to set a foundation for the creation of clever designs. They’ve worked with start-ups, multinationals, advertising and PR agencies, charities, individuals and companies from both public and private sectors.   

Scotland

Nc’nean Distillery, Morvern  

This isn’t just any distillery – Nc’nean is a small team of eco-conscious drinks fanatics on a mission to change the way the world thinks about whisky from Scotland. The inspiration for their name, Neachneohain, is an ancient Gaelic goddess known as the Queen of Spirits and a fierce protector of nature. Strong and independent, she was never afraid to walk her own path. They try to follow her ethos in everything they do.  

Avocado55, Dornie  

Avocado55’s team offers expert advice and leading technology to contact centres and service organisations. When starting out, the founders wanted to deliver a service that would enable small enterprises to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. 

Prickly Thistle, Inverness  

Scotland’s first B Corp textiles mill and clothing manufacturer, Prickly Thistle promise that after wearing their clothes, you’ll never want to wear anything unnatural again. They make woollen, tartan clothes for women by women, using a traditional shuttle loom in a small-batch production model. Clare, the founder, wanted to create as many jobs as she could with the business, so decided against using modern looms, which would replace people with technology.   

The TEFL Org, Inverness  

When someone suggested The TEFL Org apply for B Corp certification, it was a no-brainer for the company that certifies people to teach English as a foreign language both online and abroad. Founded in 2008 after Jennifer MacKenzie and Joe Hallwood spent years teaching in Greece and France, the courses on offer have been developed and delivered by highly experienced English as a Foreign Language teachers. 

Wales

Coaltown Coffee Roasters, Ammanford  

In the small former mining community of Ammanford, Coaltown Coffee is planning to bring back prosperity and jobs after the closure of the town’s local industry – not through black coal, but with black bags of coffee. They focus on sustainable and transparent trade with farms from all over the world, making it a priority to pay workers fairly so they can provide for their families and communities.  

Hilltop Honey, Newtown  

The second-largest honey brand in the UK is still 100% owned by its founder and hasn’t moved from its home in Newtown since its inception in 2011. In 2021, Hilltop Honey became a B Corp by taking care of people and the world, doing things like turning waste into fertiliser, minimising food waste sent for disposal, transforming their main production site to run on up to 90% solar energy, and looking after their workforce and suppliers. 

Zip World Quarry Karts, Bangor  

Kart around a 3km track with the Snowdonia mountain range in view at Zip World, the UK’s only mountain karting track in north Wales, taking on challenges like tunnels, berms and chicanes. They are particularly interested in responsible adventure tourism, ensuring they are working to secure long-term partnerships with local suppliers.  

Flawsome!, Cardiff  

One-third of all produce is wasted because of how it looks – wonky. At Flawsome!, they take the fruit and vegetables rejected for being the wrong size, shape or colour, and turn them into delicious drinks. Karina Sudenyte and Maciek Kacprzyk were inspired to start the fruit drinks business when they thought about their childhood memories of making homemade treats from the fruit they picked in their nan’s garden. They now offer more than 16 mouthwatering products with surplus produce.  

TOTM, Cardiff  

In an industry rife with greenwashing, TOTM believes in using business for good by inspiring better, more sustainable ways to manage periods with its range of organic, natural and reusable period products. From making eco-friendly options more accessible to breaking period stigma, TOTM is championing menstrual dignity and wellbeing for all.  

England

Haeckels, Margate  

From its start in 2012, Haeckels’ founder Dom Bridges wanted to reconnect with fragrance and the natural world around him in Kent. The company creates natural, beautiful products by making use of up to 7,000 tonnes of seaweed washed up on Thanet shores. Why seaweed? It’s rich with valuable vitamins, minerals and amino acids; it’s anti-bacterial, skin-rebuilding and anti-inflammatory; it’s all-natural, and all around us. 

World of Books, Worthing, West Sussex  

Looking to buy a book, but want to do it in an affordable, sustainable way? World of Books is leading the way in a circular economy by selling used books online. It’s a for-profit business that supports charities and protects the planet by enabling more products to be reused, rather than thrown away.  

Bio-D, Hull  

Back in the 1980s, Michael Barwell maintained commercial ships. The cleaning products he used required gloves and a respirator. So he was pretty surprised to spot many of the same ingredients in cleaning products found in people’s homes. In 1989 he founded Bio-D, developing cleaning products derived from natural alternatives. 

Hawksmoor, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh  

After a “long and rigorous” assessment, Hawksmoor, a British steakhouse and cocktail bar chain, became a certified B Corp – one of the chain’s “most significant achievements” since opening. Their menus encompass the best ingredients available, served by friendly people who love what they do. Their dry-aged steaks from locally and ethically sourced cattle, sustainably sourced seafood, and wine and cocktail list make them the “number one steak restaurant in the world”.   

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Easthall Farm, Hitchin, Hertfordshire 

Regenerative farmers with an emphasis on conserving nature, enhancing landscapes and building new habitats – that’s Easthall Farm. They’ve managed to produce beef and arable crops to the highest quality while improving soil through grass pastures, arable crops and organic fertiliser. They’ve educated the public about environmental issues with a forest school programme and Open Farm Sunday, also welcoming social enterprises and charities to use the farm for wellbeing and education.   

COOK, Sittingbourne, Kent  

COOK’s purpose is to nourish people and the planet through frozen ready meals prepared by their own chefs, delivered to customers’ front doors. By becoming a B Corp, the business proves they walk the talk. The status holds them accountable, connects them to a brilliant community and helps customers know they’re supporting something bigger than just great food.   

Blue Tit, London  

Typically, hair salons are high-environmental-impact businesses, but Blue Tit want to change this. They’ve offset 59.24 tonnes of CO2, and use Easydry, disposable and biodegradable towels, eco showerheads and an organic hair care range. Stylists volunteer to provide free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness, or supporting charities such as Mosaic LGBTQ+ Young Persons Trusts, New Horizon Youth Centre, Refettorio Felix Homeless Shelter, and Medaille Trust.  

One+all , Stockport, Cheshire  

As their clothing is worn by the next generation, One+all believe it’s only right to deal with the climate emergency head-on. They use recycled polyester in their schoolwear, generate energy from their photovoltaic solar system, recycle 80% of their waste, use less cardboard packaging and depend on electric-hybrid cars to get around. Apparently, they also “high five” and say “thank you” a lot.  

Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, East Sussex  

Husband and wife team Mark and Sarah Driver have been working to produce some of the finest-quality English sparkling wines from their family-run winery in Sussex since 2010. The couple’s vision is greater than just wine production – they aim to contribute to the lands that have been farmed since medieval times.   

Fill Refill Co, Finedon, Northamptonshire  

Family-run and independent, Fill Refill is the original zero-waste close-loop refill company based out of Northamptonshire. Supplying in a closed loop means they collect all the containers sent out and take them back for washing and reusing over and over again. They create products for responsible cleaning, laundry, body and hair refills that work well, look cool and cut waste.  

And remember, in dozens of towns and cities across the country, you will be able to find a representative of a B Corp. Yes, because Big Issue is a B Corp, every vendor selling magazines is allowing you the opportunity to become a regular B Corp customer!  

B Corp Month runs until 31 March.

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