The iconic ‘B’ behind B Corp Certification popped up in Padstow recently as part of a wider tour of the UK to drive to build understanding of the B Corp movement.

Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and transparency. To certify, a company must measure and improve their impact on their workers, customers, community, and the environment. B Corps change their legal articles to consider the impact of their decisions on people and the planet alongside profit. The B stands for “Benefit for all”.

March was B Corp Month, and the 2023 theme was ‘We Go Beyond’ — an opportunity to celebrate the 1,200 UK businesses who go beyond business norms to transform the economic system for the better. The campaign came as research from B Lab UK revealed 80% of the UK public favour shopping from companies that do good for people and planet, yet only 22% find it easy to identify whether a company means what they say.

The giant 7 ft ‘B’, which usually lives in B Lab UK’s HQ in London, moved around the country to build awareness among the UK public about how B Corps are providing an answer to the demand for mission-led brands.

It was hosted at a number of locations, first up being beaches on the Cornish coast and Padstow Harbour, hosted by B Corp Lovat Parks.

Rosalind Holley, B Lab UK’s director of communications & marketing, commented: “The UK B Corp community is one of the fastest growing in the world and represents a passionate group of people using business as a force for good. Yet historically much of this growth has been concentrated around London and the south east.

“There are amazing businesses going beyond in all corners of the UK, and we wanted to spotlight their impact while helping to drive conversations and understanding about the B Corp movement. This particular big ‘B’ was built to help us accelerate the movement in its early stages back in 2019 and has been living in our offices ever since. In the spirit of ‘reuse and recycle’, we asked the B Corp community to come up with creative ways to bring it to life and it’s been amazing to see what they’ve done with it.”

Cornwall is home to 30 B Corps, including the likes of Rodda’s, Leap and Ward Williams Associates.