I used to think business was a cut-throat kind of place. I stuck to the NGO and government sectors because they were always purpose-driven and that’s where I wanted to spend my time. How I wanted to contribute to society.
If we think back to how commerce started, you exchanged one thing you needed for something you had in surplus. It clearly got distorted along the way and now consumptionism is in full swing, and I don’t think need comes into buying decisions too much anymore. Sometimes I lose hope if we’ll ever be able to get out of it.
BUT since discovering B Corp, I started to see a way for business to be both successful and fair – focusing on challenges & need. And after 8 years working in the movement, I’ve seen it to be true 😀
I’ve seen businesses use the commercial model to actually solve social & environmental challenges e.g.
- Marvel FMCG – donating 1% of their placement fee to The Marvel Foundation, which funds projects around the UK to help as many people as possible have the career they deserve.
- Stroud Brewery
- 1stly only brewing Organic beer, therefore supporting regenerative agriculture & soil restoration
- 2ndly purchasing 70% of supplies from the local area and serving 75%+ local customers, therefore economically supporting their local area
- Chirpy Heat – specifically targeting their sustainability consulting expertise on social housing in order to improve living conditions for low income families
- Peppy Health – designing an app for companies to support their employees through menopause & men’s health issues
- Switchee – designing a device for social housing providers to help reduce energy costs, improve resident satisfaction, and tackle issues such as damp and mould.
And if they aren’t already using their business in that way, I encourage them to think about how they can transform it so that it does.
In the B Corp framework, they call them Impact Business Models. In the current standards, businesses are rewarded extra, chunky points if their business is already like this, but in the new standards starting in January 2026, it’s going to be mandatory that your business does this.
For me, this is our way out of negative consumptionism.
With this focus on purpose, I’ve seen companies:
- Attract & retain talent
- Win new contracts
- Retain loyal customers
Which leads to making profit. Which leads to that business thriving, while looking after its people & the planet. And the virtuous circle continues.
Imagine if ALL businesses behaved like this.
This is what drives me every day, and why I named my businesses after it because I believe that Better Business = Better World.
💭 What does better business mean to you?