March means #BCORP Month, and throughout the month we’ll be sharing how #WeGoBeyond to be a better business.
Our journey to becoming a B Corp began in 2020, and eighteen months later, we excitedly gained our certification. At this point, there were only 430 B Corp brands in the UK. Now, we’ve surpassed 1100 - all with the shared goal to reduce inequality and poverty; build a healthier environment; create stronger communities; and provide more high quality jobs, with dignity and purpose.
Going beyond began for BŌL back in 2017, dropping meat, fish, and dairy from all our recipes to become 100% plant-based: 7 million litres of water, 194 tonnes of CO2 emissions, and 91 thousand square meters of farmland every year. We wanted to become an easy route to a positive choice, capturing the best of Mother Nature, and combining them with incredible, globally inspired dishes. We’ve truly never looked back. But it wasn’t without its risk. The decision nearly cost us the business, and along with half our recipes, we lost around half of our turnover overnight.
When we’re not innovating with plants, we’re looking at our packaging. And we hold ourselves to very high standards when it comes to using the least amount of packaging for our recipes. We light weight as much as possible, and continually review where things could be done better. Our packaging is 100% recyclable, BPA free, and utilises recycled materials whenever we can. We always design something fully bespoke, that can offer an exciting second life. From tuppawares to storage for dried spices. And on top of this, we’re forever shouting about the three R’s: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, with our always on #DontWasteCreate campaign. We’re in a playground of opportunity and nothing is ever off the cards for future launches.
Finally, social responsibility holds a very special place for us. People and community have been at the core of the business since the very start, when we donated our first year’s profit to Action Against Hunger, which helped screen and assist 13,000 people affected by malnutrition in the Rajastan region of India. And almost 8 years later, we have continued to partner with some incredible charities, and donated thousands of meals to soup kitchens and homeless shelters across the country. During the Covid-19 crisis we were able to donate over 20,000 meals to the NHS to support them in their amazing work.
The road to better business is a long one, but we could not be prouder of the steps we’ve taken so far. BŌL will continue to commit to the B Corp standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, and go beyond in every way we can. Choosing long-term investments over quick wins, and ultimately measuring success based on the positive impact it can create.
We are thrilled to be part of a community who envision a better economic system where businesses can benefit people, communities, and the planet. B Corps come in all shapes and sizes, proving there’s always an opportunity to use business as a force for good.
Find out more about B Corp Month, and We Go Beyond here: https://www.bcorpmonth.com