Profit, people and the planet: B-Corps lead debate Lights... camera... action

Companies committed to the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability have met in Northamptonshire to discuss best practice and to share experiences.

All 11 certified B Corporation organisations based in the county were at the Brixworth headquarters of reusable nappy specialist Bambino Mio, the newest company in the county to receive official B Corp certification. They discussed how each is reinventing the way they do business by committing to purpose as well as profit. B Corp Certification reflects the entire way a business operates, covering the key areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of above

80 and providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.

“Like our fellow B Corps, we opened up every area of our business for scrutiny and a rigorous independent assessment to ensure we are committed to having the best positive impact on our people, our planet, and future generations,” said Bambino Mio’s founder Guy Schanschieff inset. “We are delighted to collaborate with fellow B Corp businesses. We want to be a powerful force for change and hope that our accountability to sustainability and our commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others.”

Northamptonshire’s B Corp businesses are: Akerlof Construction; Averil Phillips & Family; Bambino Mio; Fill Refill Co; Honeywell Bakes; Jelley Distilleries; New England Financial Solutions; People & Transformational; The People Experience Hub; QSA partners; Warners Distillery.

Sustainability has been at the root of Bambino Mio’s products for more than 25 years. It encourages parents to use reusable nappies so that fewer single-use nappies are made and dumped in landfill.

Bambino Mio was certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit organisation behind the B Corp movement, as having met the highest social and environmental standards - its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit. The company achieved a score of 93.4 - average company score is 50 - and gained two Impact Business Models for delivering results for specific business stakeholders, one for resource conservation and another for toxin reduction.

Nishi Patel, the managing director of Northampton business N-Accounting, is pictured at work in the firm’s new YouTube recording studio. The studio is the location for filming of content for the company’s dedicated YouTube channel and other social media. N-Accounting also records its Unrelenting Drive podcast there.

Mr Schanschieff said: “I believe that all businesses should feel a responsibility to consider people and our planet rather than making decisions just based on profit. We believe that this fundamental component can have a lasting significance, for generations to come.”

Worldwide 6,279 businesses

The studio is part of a move by the firm into more office space at its base at Burlington House in Wellingborough Road. “We are thrilled to be able to record our video content in-house,” said Mr Patel. “We were keen to stay in the great location of Burlington House so it is fantastic that they have been able to accommodate our growth.” have certified as B Corps. In the UK there are more than 1,100 companies across a broad range of industries and sizes, including brands such as innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.

“Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector,” said B Lab UK’s executive director Chris Turner. “Welcoming Bambino Mio is an exciting moment. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Bambino Mio in paving the way for a new way of doing things.”