B-Corp month: Brands making a difference

03/08/20224 min read

March is B Corp month, but what does this mean for H&B? Discover exactly what B Corps are, why they're important, and some of the brands we stock today.

At Holland & Barrett, we’ve always got time to celebrate all the businesses that are going above and beyond to be a force for good in the world.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to spot the companies contributing to practices focusing on social and environmental accountability: they’re B Corp certified.

We believe in helping our customers lead healthy, sustainable lifestyles. And one of the ways that we’re enabling this is by stocking a wide selection of certified B Corp brands.

So why not join us in supporting a better way of doing business by choosing to shop from our range of B Corp products? Find out a little more about what this means below.

We’ll be explaining what B Corp certification means, as well as showcasing three of our most loved B Corp natural beauty brands:

B Corporation definition
Why are B Corps important?
How can you identify a B Corp product?
Our B Corp range
Weleda
Ethique
Dr Bronner’s

B Corporation definition

Not sure what we mean by B Corp?

B Corp is short for “Beneficial Corporations”. Essentially, if a brand is B Corp certified, it means they are classed as a for-profit company, using business as a force for good.

This certification is only awarded to companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental accountability.

Why are B Corps important?

So why should you choose to buy products from a B Corp brand, rather than any other kind?

B Corps are dedicated to building a more inclusive and sustainable economy by considering the impact of their decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment.

Unfortunately, though, a lot of businesses are still yet to follow their lead.

How can you identify a B Corp product?

Luckily, B Corp certification is a mark of honour and a product of exemplary efforts. So, if you’re awarded one, chances are you’ll want to show it off.

We’ve grouped all B Corp certified products and brands on our website to make it easier for our customers to browse.

Those shopping in store can keep an eye out for the B Corp logo which flags a certified product.

A couple of the B Corp brands we sell…

Here at Holland & Barrett, we stock over 400 B Corp products from 26 different brands. From Pip & Nut spreads to Pukka teas, we’re here to help you explore innovative B Corp brands.

You’ll find staples across the board from B Corp brands, including food, drinks, supplements, and more.

We’ve also got some admirable beauty advocates in our midst. Let’s mention a few highlights:

Weleda has quite literally a century of sustainable business practices behind them. Starting with their own medicinal plant garden in 1921, they’ve remained a staple in organic face, body, and mother & baby care ever since.

What you might not have known is that Weleda is a B Corp brand; they were awarded the certification in their centenary year.

We’re proud stockists of the Weleda range and we applaud their commitment as B Corp members.

They’ve reached out to the community by holding workshops and lectures on biodynamic cultivation and they are founding members of the Organic Sunflower Seed Initiative.

Weleda views their gardens as ecosystems where biodiversity is just as important as production: they assert that the more variety there is in a garden, the healthier that garden - and everything in it - will be.

And, for their customers, that means top-quality skincare and body care products.

Weleda

Shop Weleda here

Ethique

Sustainable bars, not plastic bottles! That’s the ethos behind New Zealand-based Ethique.

We’re seeing more and more shampoo and body wash bars in place of liquids now, and Ethique was among the first. Their efforts to reduce plastic waste and save our seas saw them receive B Corp certification in 2015.

Since their birth in 2012, Ethique has prevented over 20 million plastic bottles from being made and disposed of.¹

No matter your skin or hair type, there’s a fun and fruity formula: users can cater to their unique goals in exactly the same way as a liquid shampoo, scrub, or cleanser. And their scents are good enough to (want to) eat!

Ethique knows that sustainability is for everyone, and so their products range from affordable, waste-free hair, skin, and bodycare - and even a kids’ shampoo bar for smaller sustainability advocates.

Ethique

Shop Ethique here

Dr Bronner’s

This family-run business began with Dr Emmanuel Bronner in 1948 and has been handed down ever since. Dr Bronner’s is known for their castile soap, a soap free of animal fats and synthetic ingredients.

They’ve excelled in the sustainability game since they first came about, and today can boast 100% recyclable packaging, 100% biodegradability, and 33% of all profits are donated to social and ecological projects.

They’re also the brand behind the All-One initiative; backing organic integrity, equitable long-term supply chains, youth programmes, and far more.

Dr Bronner’s received B Corp endorsement in 2015 and now rank in the top 10% of all certified brands.

Over the years, they’ve expanded their range of fragrance-free and dye-free soaps.

Despite being celebrated by some of today’s big celebrities (Sandra Bullock, Meghan Markle, and Drake are all fans), there’s nothing to sway Dr Bronner’s from its simple-but-effective roots. So, you can scrub with a clean conscience.