B Corp Month: The South West organisations that are using business as a force for good
B Corp Month is in full swing with this year’s theme, ‘A Simple Symbol, A Powerful Signal’, highlighting just how influential the B Corp movement is. There are over 10,000 B Corps across 103 countries and 160 industries who are striving for a better future, keen to make a positive difference to the global economic system.
The team at Absolute PR and Marketing are extremely proud to be part of this powerful movement. Having achieved our accreditation in 2024, we intend to hold this marque for many years to come, leading with purpose to make a real difference in the community in which we work. You can read more about what it means to us to be a B Corp by reading last year’s B Corp Month blog here.
This year, we would like to highlight the B Corp organisations in the South West that truly inspire us. With over 400 registered B Corps in the West Country, it makes our patch the second most B Corp dense region in the UK (source: SME). Based in Devon, we’re lucky to be surrounded by so many businesses that lead with purpose, and we are always learning from and connecting with this fantastic community.
Treveth
First up is Treveth. A Cornish developer with a difference, Treveth is one of the first developers in the UK to achieve B Corp status and they also believe that they are the first local authority owned company to achieve the badge.
Founded by Cornwall Council in 2019, Treveth creates high-quality homes, sustainable communities and modern commercial developments for the benefit of people who live and work in Cornwall.
We love Treveth’s ethos and what they are trying to achieve. The team are truly passionate about improving the quality of housing and the housing stock in Cornwall, particularly within the volatile private rented sector.
It’s no secret that Cornwall is currently experiencing a housing crisis, with over 22,000 households on the housing register. Treveth is striving to make a difference, bringing forward hundreds of new build affordable and shared ownership homes through its developments every year.
In addition to its social responsibility, Treveth is aligned with Cornwall Council’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality. With a dedicated sustainability and environment team in place, the developer designs homes to be net zero ready and fossil-fuel free, incorporating low-carbon technologies and thoughtful landscape design.
We haven’t come across a developer that takes its responsibility to the environment as seriously as Treveth does. The team is always looking at ways in which they can improve their practices, and we admire them for being a force for good in the housing and development sector.
Riverford Organic Farmers
Up the road from Absolute PR and Marketing in Buckfastleigh is Riverford Organic Farmers, an employee-owned company that grows and delivers exceptional produce directly to people’s homes. Riverford’s main product is their vegetable boxes, but they also have the award-winning Riverford Field Kitchen, a beautiful restaurant which serves a seasonal menu with ingredients coming straight from the farm.
The fact Riverford farm organically grow and deliver delicious fruit and vegetables to customers who are seeking supermarket alternatives is great in itself. But we love how Riverford goes the extra mile, taking its environmental and social responsibility seriously.
Achieving its B Corp status in 2020, Riverford only delivers and uses seasonal produce in its kitchen, ensuring that produce isn’t imported or ‘rushed’ on. They believe in a slow grown approach, allowing produce to come to fruition and develop its deep flavour without the need for artificial fertilisers. The team has also created a fantastic closed loop system for its packaging. Delivery boxes can be given back to the drivers and re-used again and again. All packaging is made from paper or is home compostable resulting in 21 tonnes of plastic being saved every year.
It would be so easy for farms like Riverford to grow their own produce and consider that a job done. But we love the fact they go that extra mile. From compostable packaging and operating a 100% electric fleet, to paying farmers fairly and being employee owned, they really live the B Corp values.
Employee-ownership aligns strongly with Absolute PR and Marketing. Like Riverford, we know that when a business is owned by its people, it creates a stronger sense of purpose, accountability, and pride in the work being done. It’s not just about profit, but about building something sustainable and meaningful for everyone involved. Seeing these same principles reflected in Riverford’s approach only reinforces our admiration for their work.
We’re looking forward to seeing Riverford Organic Farmers go from strength-to-strength!
Stephens Scown
Traditionally, law firms operate in a profit-driven sector but South West based Stephens Scown is proving that it is possible to be purpose-led too.
Recognised in 2022, their B Corp status is quite an achievement. Stephens Scown is the first law firm in the South West to achieve the accreditation and joins only a handful of firms in the UK.
Not only are they employee-owned, which is pretty rare in the law space as most firms concentrate power and profit at the top, but they also encourage their employees to use business as a force for good. They do this through their four key pillars: Fundraising, Volunteering, Pro-bono work, and Environmental Impact.
We particularly like how they have incorporated these pillars into their ‘Giving Back’ programme. This ensures the Stephens Scown ethos is reflected in the team’s daily work. Employees are encouraged to act upon what they feel passionate about by receiving paid time for volunteering and all pro-bono work supports charities and communities. Carefully ensuring that their team is valued and supported has resulted in Stephens Scown consistently being ranked amongst the best places to work in the UK.
Where the environment is concerned, Stephens Scown has taken active steps to improve its footprint, achieving its goal of becoming a net zero organisation. Last year, they embarked on a big office refurbishment, successfully taking its Exeter office EPC rating from a C to an A by improving lighting, insulation, and upgrading gas heating to air source heat pumps.
We think it’s fantastic that Stephens Scown has reimagined what a law firm can be. It doesn’t have to be profit hungry. Instead, it can be a positive influence and a force for good prioritising purpose next to profit.
These are just a few of the fantastic B Corps in the South West that are doing incredible things to change the economy for the better.
Why not discover more by visiting the B Lab website. Here, you’ll find great initiatives being undertaken by B Corps near you. Well worth a visit.
