As certified B Corps who have been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, the brands collaborated to raise awareness of B Corp Month, demonstrating the possibilities when committing to B Corp ideals and increasing understanding within the drinks trade of how the B Corp community is changing the drinks world.
The evening started with a welcome from Philip Everett-Lyons, founder and CEO of the UK’s first B Corp certified rum, Hattiers Rum. Rosalind Holley, director of Communications & Marketing at B Lab UK, then gave a short insight into what it means to be a B Corp, B Corp Month and B Lab. This was followed by informative introductions from the host brands. Afterwards, guests sampled spirits, wine, beer and cocktails, as well as B Corp Certified canapes and nibbles from Pow Food and Sharpham Cheese while informally speaking with all eight host brands. Host brands included;
Hattiers Rum – The UK’s first B Corp certified rum, specialising in sourcing and blending the finest rums from across the world
Sapling Spirits – The world’s first climate positive British-made spirits brand, producing vodka and a London Dry Gin range
The Uncommon – Unbelievably good English sparkling wines, in cans, the first certified B Corp wine in the UK
Sipsmith – The pioneer of premium British handcrafted gin, on a mission to champion a better way of crafting gin with uncompromising quality and innovation. Positively fuelled by purpose
Toast – Planet-saving beer brewed with surplus bakery bread, the first UK brewery to become B Corp certified
Bruichladdich – A Victorian distillery re-imagined for the future, the first B Corp Scotch whisky
Lucky Saint – The UK’s leading independent alcohol-free beer
SXOLLIE – The UK’s first and only B Corp certified cider. Made purely with eating apples grown in the sunshine
Philip said: “The theme of this year’s B Corp Month was ‘we go beyond’ so we devised an idea around a sustainable drinks cabinet. Hattiers took the lead and brought these seven other B Corp drinks brands together, all individual businesses which have their own B Corp campaigns. Sapling Vodka, for example, is planting more trees – highly fitting given the name of the brand.
“The evening was designed to both celebrate B Corp Month and also show what companies like mine do beyond becoming B Corp accredited. For example, at Hattiers we are addressing Mental Awareness Week and I will be crossing Scotland in a canoe in a bid to highlight the fact that men of my age do not talk about mental health enough.
“We wanted to demonstrate the power that we, as a collective have, to drive both consumer and trade awareness around sustainability within the drinks business. We will continue to work together to expand The Sustainable Drinks Cabinet as there is so much more to come, so, watch this space! ”
B Corp within the UK is growing faster than ever, with over 1,100 B Corps now in the country. Worldwide, the community now includes more than half-a-million workers in over 6,300 B Corps across 89 countries and 159 industries, and more than 245,000 companies manage their impact with help from the movement’s special assessments.
Certified B Corps are businesses meeting high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. They are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
For further information about the ‘Sustainable Drinks Cabinet’ please contact:
Danielle Merchant or Emilie Morris at RAW Food and Drink PR
Email: danielle@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk / emilie@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk
Telephone: 07964 321 789
Twitter: @RAWSW
